25. "Knock, knock"

Knock, knock. That is the sound of opportunity knocking at your door. But what if opportunity is busy? Don't wait for opportunities, create your own. This week I will inspire you to go outside your comfort zone to chase those 'maybe' or 'slim' career progression opportunities.

My Experience of Going After Opportunities:

A career opportunity comes in many forms. It may look like getting a job which is a step sideways, or backwards, just to get you onto a different path. It may be networking with people who work at the company you want to work at. It may be learning a new skill either during work hours or on your own time.

To create an opportunity all you need is a goal, and an openness/willingness to follow the path to that goal. In my career, I have leapt, sometimes with a safety net, but often just with hope the world would catch me.

Opportunity #1

I was working in administration, at a busy mental health clinic when I finished my Honours year and became very interested in research as a career. My undergraduate degree was in psychology, so mental health research seemed like a natural fit.

The Director of the clinic where I worked, was the Director of Clinical Services and Research at the facility, so I knew the Director and we spoke most days. I requested meeting with the Director, to discuss my potential future in research at the facility.

I figured, if they said no, then I could start looking for another job. If they said yes, then I would be starting a new career in a place where I already knew everyone. I didn't see a down side.

Although this was my thinking, I was extremely nervous heading into that meeting. I had told the Director what the meeting would be about so they could prepare. But in doing so, I did not tell my immediate manager about my plans to go to research. I figured if the Director said no, then I wouldn't need to tell my manager. But this was a mistake on my part. My manager and I got on very well, but they felt betrayed by my actions. Our relationship was frosty for the rest of my time working there. But that's another story......

Back to the meeting with the Director. Once I settled into the meeting, I told them I was interested in research, and asked whether I could work for them as a researcher. After a brief interview outlining my skills, they gave me a job on the spot. They said I was a hard worker and they were willing to give me a chance. I was ecstatic. So much easier than searching through job ads!

This was a great boost to my confidence and I ended up staying in that research position for many years.

Opportunity #2

Later in my career, I wanted to do crime research, specifically in the prison system. I had just started my PhD, and was looking for a casual job. Serendipitously, I applied for a qualitative research job, interviewing people in prison. This would give me experience conducting research in the prison system. And, I got it!

For the first few months of this job, my enthusiasm stopped me from feeling the reality of doing research in prisons. For those of you who have not been in a prison, it is stressful. When you arrive, you need to sign in with either a pen, fingerprint and/or iris scan, depending on the security level of the prison. I was required to have an escort with me at all times, unless I was doing an interview then I was on my own. I had a duress alarm to alert anyone if I was in physical danger. Thankfully, I never needed to use it.

But by the end of the year, I was ready to leave that position. PhDs are hard, and that first year was my hardest year by far. I was tired, and only after I had left that job for a few months did I realise how stressed and anxious I had become preparing myself for the next prison visit.

After this job, I knew prison research was not for me. I would be more comfortable, and less stressed, analysing datasets than attending prisons.

The value of some opportunities and experiences is to give us a taste of the path we think we want, so we know that it is actually not for us.

Opportunity #3

After my PhD, I pursued a career as a genetic counsellor, as I missed talking to patients. I didn't know this job existed prior to reading 'Inside The O'Brien's' by Lisa Genova. I saw this career as an opportunity to be a researcher with a clinical component to my role. I emailed a genetic counsellor who was also a researcher working at the same university as me. It turned out they required a big data analyst and researcher. I was hired for my data skills, but saw it as an opportunity to see the realities of being a genetic counsellor.

In time, again I realised, I did not want this career. More specifically, I did not want to invest the time and energy in learning all about DNA, the 2 years or the $50,000 to do another Masters. These factors were too high a cost for me, so I chose another path.

Although, I have not gotten every opportunity I have gone after.

After I completed my Masters in Criminology I applied for 20-30 jobs. I was searching every night for a job in crime research. I got a few interviews, but no job offers.

I now see not getting any of these jobs as a blessing. It forced me to apply for a university job, which I got and that was the research group I ended up doing my PhD with.

Sometimes not getting an opportunity, one you are desperately craving, allows you the space for a new opportunity to be created.

The Lessons To Go After Your Opportunities:

I am a person who would rather try and fail spectacularly than not to try at all and wonder what could have been. I am ambitious, and part of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is opening yourself up to failure.

I have also learned that most people are just trying to do their best. So if you take a risk and it doesn't wrk out, there will often be people there to catch you, and help you back onto your feet. If not, you will have learnt a valuable lesson.

Successes are necessary in every career, you need wins, but the failures are what make you grow.

Lesson #1: What do you want?

This is an obvious question, but one that can be difficult to answer. If you don't know what you want long-term, think about what you want your next role to be, or a skill you would like to learn. Then think of any ways you could create an opportunity for that to happen.

Lesson #2: What does an opportunity look like?

Anything.

For example, you might look up some free workshops/programs in the area; you might volunteer your time to work in the field to develop some contacts/skills; you might apply for a job in that area, even if you don't think you have a shot, go for it; ask to do a project in that area at work to expand your skillset; if your next step can be seen as upskilling, talk to your manager about giving you opportunities to learn and apply that new skill in your current role.

Lesson #3: What experiences do you have?

If you can show you have some experience that is related to your dream job, employers will look very favourably on this experience. It also shows you are committed to this path, as you have worked in that sector before, and want to continue in it.

Lesson #4: What skills do you have?

Think of all the jobs and experiences you have had so far in your life. Which of these are similar to the job you want? Spend some time thinking about how you can use these experiences to demonstrate a skill you require in the new role.

Lesson #5: Be nice to everyone

Some, maybe all industries are small. Make sure whenever you network or are at a meeting you are respectful to everyone in the room. They may be your work colleagues in a few years time, or they may know the next person who will hire you.

Lesson #6: Go for it!

Do not doubt your skillset, and your potential, to be great. If you are seeking an opportunity, do all you can to achieve it. Apply for many jobs. It is the recruiter's job to determine if you are a suitable candidate, not yours. And every employer will be looking for a slightly different skill set, just keep on applying until you find the one for you.

Lesson #7: Seek feedback

If you go after an opportunity and do not get it, if appropriate ask why. Be very calm when you ask why and ask it from a place of learning, not from a place of anger/resentment from being rejected. This feedback is invaluable as they have no reason to lie to you, and you can decide how to act on that feedback to make it a reality, or whether to take another path. See the post 'How Do I Talk To An Expert?' for more tips.

Lesson #8: Invest in yourself

What qualifications do you need to get this job? If you are unsure, talk to potential employers and anyone who works in that field. See if an additional qualification is necessary, or simply desired. If it is required, invest in yourself by doing the course. Whilst you are learning, make sure you keep your eyes and ears open for any hands-on opportunities. Hands-on experience is the best way to make you stand out from other applicants.

How many opportunities have you had in your career? Did you pursue them or did opportunity come knocking? Did you know it was an opportunity at the time, or only in hindsight? Let me know your experience by leaving a comment below or emailing me at AuthenticResearchExperiences@gmail.com

BB

Photo by Daniel von Appen on Unsplash

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