“College is a big transition”
This phrase is often said to incoming college students, whether it be for the first time, as a transfer, or re-entering after starting their career. The thought of adapting to new levels of expectation and responsibility is enough to start worrying about all of the “what-ifs.”
I’m here to say “no worries.” The transitions you experience in work, in life and in relationships can cause a lot of stress, but there are some ways to prepare for your new direction and make the most from it. Planning for your career can be a great way to think about dealing with transitions.
Transitions in life can be anticipated, unexpected, or even a “non-event” — when you really want something to happen and it doesn’t. With all these events influencing our life and our decisions, here are four factors identified by theorist Nancy Schlossberg that can help you prepare: self, situation, support and strategies.
Self:
Understanding your values, personality and your social identities makes you specifically unique in the way that you perceive and react in a time of transition. Taking the time to reflect upon your habits, your needs and your motivators can help give you perspective in how to approach a stressful situation. In career planning, I refer to this as soul-searching. This is the time to get to know yourself. Career Development can help you through preference and values assessments and deeper conversations about the causes that motivate you.
Situation:
Along with understanding what you bring as an individual, it is important to analyze the situation you are in. Going through a situation for the first time could be the most challenging experience, but encountering it again can make it seem easier as you’ve gone through it before. Being mindful of the other people connected to the experience you are navigating can help you decide on the best ways to move forward. For career planning, this emphasizes the need for experiential education. Taking on an internship, a case competition or joining an organization can be challenging at first, but you can learn a lot about yourself and your ability to adapt through experience.
Support:
It is very important to have a support system. Building a network of family, friends and others to help provide affirmation, feedback or constructive criticism can aid in the decision making process. This sounding board can help you gather potential options as ways to work through your transition. Building a network of professionals in the industry you want to pursue can help you gain a realistic understanding of the responsibilities of the role. Networking can open up potential avenues for work experience too.
Strategy:
After reflecting upon the situation and considering your needs and the support you’ve gathered, you can develop a strategy. Here you can finalize an action plan and move forward to help you close the chapter on the issue in front of you. This is the essence of career planning, taking the time to reflect and make meaning of your experiences so you can make a well-informed decision as you put your career plans into action.
It’s okay to take your time when you are dealing with a stressful transition or life event. It’s okay to feel sad, frustrated, or annoyed through a tough process, but keeping these factors in mind can help. As a result, you will be more resilient to change and start to find it easier to bounce back when the stress of a transition is weighing you down. If you need support related to career planning, please come visit the Office of Career Development. If your life event or transition is causing you stress, contact Henderson Counseling Services at (954) 424-6911.
