I'm kind of tired right now, so this post may not be too positive.
Before I get into the complaining, let me make sure everyone knows my situation. I'm going to be a grad student until the end of November. By November 21st, my boss wants me to have a ready-to-publish version of my paper. After that, he will stop paying me, and I will be free to get a job (though I will have to come back to Northwestern to defend my paper in front of a committee in order to receive my Master's degree, but this won't happen until my paper is accepted to a journal, so it's about 3-6 months away). So that's what I'm doing full-time right now: making my paper good.
And I'm trying to find a job. And I'm trying to find a job I can have until I find a job (the previously-mentioned sabbatical) . And I'm trying to figure out what sort of job will actually make me happy in the long run. I have a lot on my plate. I thought I'd have more time to get everything sorted out. I didn't think I would be jobless in December.
Ok, I've complained. I assume it's natural and sort-of healthy to feel self-pity. But we all know it doesn't lead to progress on its own. So how can I use my current down state to my advantage?
1) I can try to imagine what it would be like for December to arrive with me still having no job offers - it would probably feel like this but permanent.
2) I can recall where I am. This whole process of leaving grad school and working hard to find a better career will end up with me being happier.
3) I can recall that I chose to be where I am. I didn't know the exact constraints I was placing on myself, but I did know there were constraints. I took responsibility for it all.
I'm surprised that worked - I feel better already. I'm still tired, but not so overwhelmed. Let's talk about career change stuff a little bit.
Today, I did my first of two appointments at the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation in Chicago. They gave me about 10 tests. The goal of the tests is to isolate different aptitudes. After two appointments with them, they can tell you what sort of work you will be good at/will be satisfying to you. I've heard great things about the results. My second appointment is 10/29. I'll let you know how it turns out.
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2 comments:
This all sounds good...you're staying on task, you're examining any and all possibilites within an area you have interest in and you're tired! I think the testing is good...it's like getting a CarFax report on a car, you know you like the car, you're sure it's in sound condition, it's the right price...but you just want that one professional objective opinion from another source. Is it the right color. hmmmm. Good luck with the results.
I agree! Except this test costs $600 dollars. I think it's worth it, though, for a car I plan on driving my whole life.
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