Take this week on The Bachelor, for instance. First Jason Mesnick decides on Melissa as the “amazing woman” he wants to spend the rest of his life with; but within six weeks, he decides that it’s really Molly that he’s in love with and can’t live without. We might delve into this situation a little deeper to discover what really happened?
If we liken this situation to jobs, we might feel somewhat nervous about accepting a job without knowing much about it or without meeting many of the people that we will be spending a great deal of time with. Initially at the interview the employer and the position might seem “awesome” and we may even feel that the excitement of being in a new job might blind us to some of the things that don’t necessarily feel just right. Although we may not totally be able to avoid being caught in such a situation, there are things that we can do to increase our chances of making a more informed decision prior to making a commitment.
The career planning process offers us an opportunity to dig deeper into what we really want. The first step in the process is self-assessment which means really taking the time to understand our values, interests, and personality. After the fact Jason said that Melissa was the type of girl he always dated and perhaps this time he was looking for something different. If Jason had taken the time to do a thorough self-assessment prior to the show, the end result may have been different.
Next in the process is researching all of the options and gathering all of the facts. Even though Jason went on many dates, both group and individual, the whole structure of the show does not depict real life. I think most of us could have fallen in love with multiple people if we were wined and dined in a foreign country while doing amazing things that we might otherwise never be able to afford. In addition, Jason continually professed how much family meant to him and he never had the opportunity to meet Melissa's family or take part in a family gathering.
Then there's the decision-making phase and this is where it all fell apart. If Jason had done a complete self-assessment of his wants and desires and used this criteria in getting to know "researching" each of the women, his ultimate decision would probably have been quite different.
How can we avoid the anxiety and disappointed of accepting a job that perhaps in time will turn ugly? Again, doing a thorough self-assessment and researching all of the options will yield much better results than accepting any job that comes along. Another way to avoid this situation is to try the position out first. Spending time working for a company can provide the perspective needed to make an informed decision based on one's individual needs and expectations. Since most employers prefer candidates who have completed at least one internship, it’s in our best interest to pursue these opportunities prior to entering the job market. Internships not only provide the relevant knowledge and skills that make people happy and successful in their field, they also provide exposure to the field and an opportunity to try it out first to make sure it’s a good fit before making a long term commitment.
Consequently, if you are still undecided about your career and concerned that you might make the wrong decision - taking the time to do one or more internships before making a commitment could save you a lot of grief in the long term.
