Sometimes it's hard to balance being a burgeoning young PR professional with trying to fight the part of myself that doesn't feel ready or mature enough to make the BIG employment decisions.
Some of you may know that I am currently looking for another job, some of you may not. The secretiveness of the job search is another balancing act in itself: it is stupid (and a little disrespectful) to tell everyone and their mother that you want to leave your current job... especially as this news can make its way back to your employer. However, keeping your search completely silent can cut down on your networking ability.
Right now my biggest opponent in the balance game is apathy. I know that I want a different job: something more applicable to my field of interest/skill, something that I would be excited about doing every day, something that paid a little more money (though this would just be a bonus.) But when I think about going on LinkedIn, Workopolis, Craigslist etc. one more time, I sometimes feel the passivity roll in, and with it come the bad thoughts. "I'm young... I can wait a few more months at this job." "The job market is still pretty thin so I shouldn't put myself out there just yet."
When these thoughts hit you, you need to just say "STOP!" (I'm working on it, I swear.) There may be a million reasons not to look for your dream job right now, but there are a million and one reasons to get off your ass and get out there.
Bad thought: I'm young... I can wait a few more months at this job.
Better thought: I'm young.. I deserve more than this job and have the energy to go out and get one! Plus, there is the adage that the job search will take approximately one month per $10 000 you expect in salary (roughly) so you don't really want to wait.
Bad thought: The job market is still pretty thin so I shouldn't put myself out there just yet.
Better thought: The job market (especially in Public Relations) is seeing a lot of growth. Even in a slower economy, there are people who get hired and that could be you!
Bad thought: I know how to do this job and I'm comfortable in it.
Better thought: Being comfortable often begets complacency (*see this whole blog post) and my skills are suffering because of it. If I'm not doing work that enhances my skills and makes it easier to advance, then I should be moving on.
If you're like me and are experiencing employment lethargy, check out this great article from Forbes on 5 Reasons People Stay Stuck At Their Job. Don't be a Debbie Downer, Molly Malingerer or Abraham Apathetic, get out there and get the job you deserve. I promise I won't be far behind.
