Let’s talk about goal setting. Academics generally have goals already set for them, but I would highly recommend setting your own. The world outside of academia isn’t as structured. As they say, if you aim at nothing, you will hit nothing.
The point of this post is not to tell you what goals to set. That would be up to you and your new chosen field. The more you network and work in your field, the more you will learn about it. And the more people you will meet with all kinds of different goals. This can seem overwhelming because in academia, everyone in your field pretty much has the same endpoint. But it can also be exhilarating to learn about all the different possibilities.
You can also take comfort in the fact that if you don’t like one road, there’s always another. There’s always more than one way to get to your destination. Academia usually limits paths while the world outside opens many paths. You can’t do it “wrong.” And you can fail and recover. The world outside of academia is full of people who may be on a second, third, or even fourth job or career. After all, failure is part of learning.
A good mentor or career coach is a valuable resource. This person can help you identify your strengths and values and help you identify your goals. Keep in mind you can have more than one mentor or career coach.
Another feature you may find surprising as a recovering academic is that it is perfectly logical and reasonable to ask career-oriented goals questions. You can ask people in your field what career paths are available and a roadmap that shows you how to get there. And people can and do spell it out. You don’t have to stumble along and beat yourself up because you’re not where you would like to be in your career. And you’re not dumb for asking. In some organizations, it is expected that you do ask or this kind of guidance is provided. If it is, this is a great place to work!
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