The Rocky Road Ahead
The phrase "career ladder" is frequently used when discussing careers. You may envision your career as a series of steps up a ladder, with progressively more challenging and senior roles. But, reality rarely works out as planned, and many rewarding careers are non-linear.
📺 Watch the video below to understand why your career is not a ladder, and why there is no one correct path (6:57)
Test Your Understanding
Complete the quiz below to confirm you understand the key ideas from the video
In the next lesson, you'll reflect on your career wall so far and some key learnings from past experiences.
Getting Your First Job is Hard
📺 Watch this video where Victor reflects on the hardest part of the internship search (0:59)
As you may have experienced when applying for roles in the past, getting an entry-level job can be tough. Many entry-level jobs require experience and so early job seekers feel like they are caught in a bind: without being given an opportunity to start, how does one gain experience? Situations like this can leave job seekers feeling frustrated and at the mercy of an impossible system.
🤔 So, what’s an entry-level job seeker to do?
One approach to navigating modern career development is to think like an engineer. Whether they are designing new buildings, electrical circuits, or software systems, engineers focus on solving problems. They use their technical knowledge, collaboration skills, and creativity to find solutions to complex problems. Navigating a career is a complex problem, that calls for “career engineering.”
Extreme Ownership
Becoming an effective career engineer requires taking an analytical and proactive approach to career development. While academic institutions, mentors, or others may provide support, you and you alone are responsible for your success.
📢📢 Let’s say it again louder for the people in the back: You and you alone are responsible for your success!
