There are many adjectives to describe the years of exploration and confusion that often follow College or University. This time can be confusing, stressful, exciting, challenging, daunting, and it can also feel very lonely. But no matter how alone you feel trying to find your professional footing – you are far from alone.
By stepping out and away from traditional education, many for the first time in their lives, one can feel adrift. With the increasingly competitive entry-level job market, many find themselves feeling stuck in part-time work with their ambitions seemingly on pause. However, this can be an excellent time to explore, try new things, learn new skills, and create new projects and adventures.
LEARNING SKILLS OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM
Not all learning is done in a classroom and by exploring less traditional means of skills development, you can open yourself up to a whole new world of opportunities. Find online resources and explore new skills; look into new and outside of the box interests that catch your eye and work towards building those interests into palpable skill sets. For example, you may find an interest in drawing and composition – build that into a design skillset. You may have a love of books – use your passion for literature and turn it into a writing or research skill set. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new – even if it differs from your area of study. Having a variety of knowledge and interests can only serve you in a future career.
PRACTICING NEW SKILLS
In building out and exploring new skill sets – be sure to put those skills into practice. Create projects that use your new and existing skills; this can not only help you hone these skills better, but it can also provide you with a portfolio of experience when looking for work. Hands-on learning is also an excellent way to determine which career paths might suit you best – and if you feel the path you’ve chosen is not for you, then change it up, learn something new, and try again.
Prepr’s Digital Capability Labs are the perfect opportunity to test drive your career and start to figure out which direction feels right for you.
Anxiety surrounding the post post-secondary years and finding a new career can be overwhelming. However, it is important to remember that learning never really ends, and the ability to switch paths and change your mind doesn’t go away either. The endless possibilities that life holds can be intimidating, but these possibilities also mean that you can always shift pathways and learn something new. So, take a breath – keep learning, keep creating, and keep growing.
Read more about how to find a new career in our article: Choosing a Career in Today’s Digital Marketplace