It’s no secret that I am currently looking for a job. I was forcefully let go—along with most of my co-workers—and now I am left with the grueling task of trying to find another employment opportunity.

But what am I looking for exactly?

I visit websites that list openings on a daily basis and look through dozens of listings each day. However, I end up applying for a very small number of jobs, which—in a way—is limiting my choice pool. Why is that, you might ask? That is a wonderful hypothetical question. My answer would be that my selectiveness stems from an understanding that I am looking for an opening that would serve my long-term career development, instead of simply filling someone’s functional gap for a handful of cash. I could—theoretically—start working tomorrow. However, I must consider if this work would benefit me in the long run, apart from collecting a paycheck at the end of each month.

Greener Pastures

For this reason, I am holding out for a better chance while kindly declining suggestions from my friends and loved ones to go work for “ABC” or “XYZ.” These suggested jobs may seem like a good short-term solution or stop-gap employment, but at times some feel like a genuine step back for my career trajectory. What makes this even more challenging is that I’ve shifted my career from IT—information technology—to data and analytics, with a focus on project management. Openings in IT no longer interest me, nor do they reflect my current role and skill set. I mean, I could do it; I just don’t want to anymore. Being specialized and having an arsenal of tools for a particular niche of work is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you’re really good at one thing. On the other hand, though, you’re only good at one thing as well!

To Recap

Until I find an opening that serves my long-term career development, I am holding off on “entry-level jobs” and “dead-end ruts.” I’ve already had my fair share of those hands dealt to me before!