“You have permission to not love your first job” by Michael A. Goodman
Please read the article before reading mine. Thank you!
As a young adult and a semi-recent college graduate, I find career advice articles interesting. I read articles about job interviews, how to deal with co-workers, how to deal with clients, leadership advice, etc.
When this article floated by my LinkedIn feed, my thoughts were “I loved my first job, for a time.” The article is a short read, and I recommend it. Perhaps it will encourage you to stick it out with your current employer for a little while longer, perhaps it will encourage you to quit.
I have put in my resignation with my current employer. We have agreed on a 30 day plus or minus a week countdown. Why am I leaving? Many reasons and no reason at all, but basically because I am not happy here. The more politically correct reason is that I don’t see a future for myself and I don’t want to continue wasting my time.
Where do I see myself in the future? That’s a good question. The answer is that I have no idea. What I do know is that I want my cake and eat it too. I want a large salary. I want an insane amount of personal time. I want my job to be my life, but I don’t want my life to be my job.
Not too long ago, I once said that I wanted a job that I didn’t have to work when I went home for the day. My first year in the workforce has taught me that there are many reasons professionals work extra hours. Some do it out of necessity because that is the only way the work will get done. Some do it for advancement. Others do it for the passion. I have decided that I want a career that I am passionate about.
Of course, this is not why I quit.
My co-workers are amazing. The pay is okay for my position and experience. The overall atmosphere is outstanding, and I have learned a lot about the industry. All-in-all, this has been a great first job.
However, this is not my passion. Learning about this industry is taxing on me, to put politely. Impolitely… It is boring. I don’t care about it. This industry will not be helpful in preventing or surviving post-apocalyptic society. Also, I am not mastering the skills necessary for my primary job function, and I am taking that failure much too personally to the end that it is affecting my overall health.
If you haven’t read the article by now and hate spoilers, don’t continue yet. However, you should read his final words if nothing else.
“What world do you want to live in?”
Reflect on this. Accept the prescribed norms and use them to pave your own path. Think of your whole person. Be your whole person. Your whole person matters. And when anyone tells you your feelings don’t matter or are unimportant, kindly walk away, and surround yourself with positive energy and people and places that will build you up.
Because you deserve your cake, and to eat it, too.
Now, let me reiterate, I love my first job. No one here has ever said that my feelings don’t matter. However, I have to be true to my whole person. This industry is draining me because it is not something I am passionate about. My next steps need to connect me with my inner self in order to find a path more suitable. My current homework is creating a list of life goals. Expect that post soon!
Now where did my cake go?
The Great Blog of Chanel Rose 