Taking Charge of Your Career (HBR Women at Work Series)

3

Finding a Job When You Don’t Know What You Want to Do Next

by Mimi Aboubaker

Few people find embarking on a job search exciting. In fact, most of us would probably agree that it’s a daunting and emotionally exhausting process. As a result, early-career job seekers tend to fall into two broad categories: avoiders and gatherers.

Overwhelmed by feelings of fear or confusion, avoiders often shut down entirely: “I don’t know where to start, so I’m going to do nothing.” Gatherers, on the other hand, respond to those same emotions with feverish action: “I have no idea what I want to do, so I’m casting a wide net,” or, “I hate my current job, so I’ll apply to everything.”

Neither mindset is going to lead you to a successful outcome. In the case of ...