In the years that I have been working, I've consistently been faced with situations that led me to decide between two crucial options: will I go for it or wait for it?
These are simple questions, but they can lead to major changes in someone's life, or at the very least, their career. I've learned a lot from how I handled different work-related situations that involved these decisions.
Let me share with you how these personal choices played out in my life as a young professional.
I grabbed the opportunity to gain my first work experience
I graduated with a degree in Communication Arts and dreamed of working with a reputable advertising agency. I was enamored with the idea of working in a high-rise office with an open floor plan and agile work environment, attending meetings with clients wearing a smart casual attire.
When the time came for me to look for a job, I had a rude awakening: it wasn't easy to get into the companies I wanted. My inclination to start working right away outweighed my desire to wait for the opportunity to work with well-known advertising agencies.
So I grabbed the first chance I got to work with an ad agency in the city, even though it didn't exactly fit into my ideals.
Here's how that decision played out:
I got to put that work experience on my resumé, but I didn't get to do the kind of work I wanted.
I got to be independent in the city, but I had to endure the difficulties of commuting.
I got to work with adults who were experienced in the advertising industry, but I didn't gain friends. Rather, I saw firsthand how toxic it could get to work with older colleagues.
In retrospect, it was the experience and independence I gained that made me fond of that time in my life. And I credit my first work experience for setting the foundation of my financial management skill.
I went for an opportunity and learned to stand by my decision
I told myself I'll give my first job a year before I looked for a new one. But only six months in, I got antsy and started asking friends for job opening recommendations.
My impulsiveness came with a price: I found out that my boss wanted to give me a regular position the same day I told him I'll be resigning.
That was a bit of a blow, but I had already made my decision. I gave up a regular position for a workplace that made me feel at home.
I learned two lessons here: first, you need to stand by your decision. Second, you need to choose what matters more when you're presented with two good options.
Lucky for me, it was a good decision to take on that new job, even though it was something unfamiliar to me — human resources.
Here's how that decision played out:
I was able to develop basic administrative skills.
I was given opportunities to learn from professionals and to lead activities as well.
Best of all, I made lifelong friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed my second job. Even though the workload was sometimes more than what I signed up for, my work friends made the experience more fun.
I finally went for the job I wanted, but it wasn't the right one for me
As good as things were, they also had to come to an end. After nearly two years in, I felt the familiar anxious feeling again — I wanted something new.
The decision to move to a different career path was a result of different factors. Eventually, I decided to get back on track by transferring to an integrated marketing communication (IMC) agency.
The initial experience with that agency was something straight out of my post-graduation daydream. I applied for a position I really wanted, the application process was swift, I aced my interview, and they had a high-rise office with an open floor plan.
It was so different from my second job, which had become my comfort zone. In retrospect, it was too good to be true.
I waited out an uncomfortable situation and got something better out of it
Once work started, I felt like a fish out of water. I was literally lost. The impostor syndrome wasn't only psychological, it unfolded right before my eyes.
I had made friends, but the longer I stayed with the agency, the more I lost confidence and felt worse. Still I told myself, you'll stay and wait it out. Wait for the time you get better at your job or for an opportunity to leave — but don't give up.
The opportunity to leave came, and I had to create a new career plan. This gave me a chance to really think about what I wanted to do, and led me to make better career decisions.
I took a leap of faith and got more opportunities to earn and travel
My work experience with that IMC agency served as my springboard to apply in a well-known advertising agency. And this time, I took a leap of faith by taking on two freelance jobs.
I am genuinely glad to say that this decision has so far been one of the best for my career. I thrive more as a freelancer than as an employee because I get to manage my own time and colleague interactions. Also, my freelance career gave me more opportunities to earn and travel.
I waited for a trying time to pass and improved my character
It hadn't been all sunshine and daisies, though. I had eased into my new work responsibilities quite easily, but I hadn't counted on encountering difficult clients.
I was assigned to work with a challenging brand. It didn't take me long to be on the receiving end of the client's unpleasant attitude.
Honestly, this experience turned me into an anxious mess for a while and it even led me to ask my supervisor to transfer me to another brand. I can say that this was my second rock bottom experience, career-wise
I had prayed for an out and asked for advice from people I trust. I got two kinds of advice:
Leave the company if I wasn't transferred to another brand
Stick it out and wait for the unpleasantness to pass (this didn't seem possible to me)
The first option seemed better and I was leaning towards it. I didn't want to stick it out. But after many crying sessions and praying hard for the decision I was about to make, I came across this verse in the Bible:
For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17)
When I read this verse, I felt like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I was certain that this was God's answer to my prayer, and I knew the decision I had to make.
I stuck it out and waited for the trying time to pass. It turned out that the rough patch I hit was part of the birth pains of working with a new client and team.
After a few months, the client had warmed up to me (as warm as they could get, at least). This experience made my character stronger and improved the way I respond to difficult people and situations.
So, will you go for an opportunity or wait for one? The decision is completely up to you.
You can change your situation now or choose to play the long game. No matter how you decide, one thing is for sure: you will gain a learning experience out of it.
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