How to find your path, brought to you by a former struggling average Joe

Here’s the catch: this article can be useful to people who, as I was before, are filled with crippling fear when they think about their future professional lives, and who feel like they have no control on where they are going in life and what will happen next.

I don't know about you, but I always hated answering the notorious question, "Well then, where do you see yourself at in a couple of years?"

"Well… Hmm… I don’t know… be happy maybe?" As John Lennon said…

In an attempt to help you with your present struggles I am personally acquainted with, here are a few tips I’ve pieced together along the years...

By the way! I’ve almost forgotten to introduce myself: My name is Alexandre, I am 23, French. Let’s just say that I am your regular, uncomplicated guy, who likes to go out and have a few (or maybe more than a few) drinks with his friends on an occasional (not so occasional) weekend night (sometimes during the week too, not going to lie).

You know, for me it’s always gone pretty well. I was not bad at school, you could say life was easy breezy. After Highschool, I decided to study Management: a very general path chosen by lack of a better idea about what I wanted to do in life. My first couple years in university went by without too many hiccups, Then, I managed to get into a good business school... actually yeah, I always found a way to get through very easily... lots of friends, good grades… but I never really had a passion. I’m talking about a real, all-consuming passion, the one that draws you to be a fireman, a musician, or a doctor and shields you from doubt and uncertainty. 

Granted, I had some hobbies, and of course some interest, but nothing ever seemed to inspire me on that superior level. I was an average Joe you see…

But then came the moment when I had to ask myself questions about my professional future. I'm not talking about one little internships or summer jobs, No No, I'm referring to the real future, the one everyone is afraid of.

That’s when the rough times started. I had no clue. Nothing came to mind. And this, despite all the opportunities offered by the current labour market.

The worst part in all of this is that I always wanted to be special, a person that left a great impression and that other would remember... but certainly not an average Joe!

Are you still with me? Do you recognize yourself a little bit in some of the situations listed above? Well good, more is coming...

The truth is that we have a lot of choices to make in life. One would argue we have too many choices, and that nothing work-wise is simple (complicated world we live in!). It's hard to find what you really want... and the thing is we really can’t get it wrong.

I had to start somewhere, so I did nearly all the personality tests I could find on the internet... but still nothing. I was afraid to pick a path, and to later realize that I wouldn't like it. I was afraid of failure, afraid to start walking down a road that would close doors, because as you must know, choosing is also renouncing. At the same time, my worst nightmare was to find myself as lost as I was then in 30 years. Paradoxical right?

Still with me? … Great!

During that time, I often thought of a "super machine" that could analyse our brains, our character traits, what we are made of... and find a career made for us, with which we would be fully content. Wouldn't that be nice, huh?

So, we keep asking for advice: some people have told me to get out of my comfort zone, which is a good thing of course, but it's difficult to figure out how... Others have asked me "but have you really tried?"... and Yes, of course I have really tried, but maybe not in the right way?

Well, if it's at least "a little bit like you", here's what I have to say to you today:

1/ Get inspired, learn more & explore

First, I tried to be inspired. I watched TED conferences, and stumbled upon some truly amazing people like Simon Sinek. You've maybe heard about this guy with more than 9 million views on YouTube. I also followed some influencers, like Gregory Logan, who helped me feel more optimistic.

I also made the effort to talk to people, to look for ideas on specialized sites and went through hundreds of job offers to find out if I would like this or that position. After a long process (and I want to insist on the long aspect of the process), I felt something.

2/ As soon as you feel something, even if it’s a tiny little something, go for it!

For me, it was a kind of revelation: working in the field of new technologies. Pretty vague, isn't it? It doesn't matter, it may be vague but it's a good start! Step by step, I went deeper into the subject, and the further I explored the option, the more I was sure I wanted to work in the Tech Industry. Why? I like all these increasingly futuristic products or services, I am convinced that these are the jobs of the future, that the future belongs to the digital world... and apparently, I am not the only one in the era of #ArtificialIntelligence #Blockchain and #MachineLearning.

3/ Try it, because without trying you'll be stuck

Therefore, I had the desire to invest myself in a Tech company.

I looked at the corporations that promote, use or sell Tech. Finally, my choice was to go to Oracle, where I had the chance to join the Digital Sales Graduate Program. To be completely transparent and honest, I've never felt so comfortable in my life. I enjoy the job itself, I get to meet tons of incredibly intelligent and kind people, and the mix of cultures and nationalities is riveting (oh and believe me the "French accent" doesn't go unnoticed). That's why I feel really grateful but also see this as a great reward for my efforts.

I was lucky to discover something I like, but if it hasn’t "yet" been your case, I really advise you to favour experiences where you can develop skills that will last a lifetime, where you can exercise your open-mindedness, and where you can have a wide variety of missions. Along these lines, I encourage you to try the Graduates Programs. Most major companies offer them.

4/ My greatest advice: Do not worry!

By talking to people who are passionate about their jobs, I realized that I have time. Many of them took years to find their dream job, if not their dream jobs. These people have tried many things, and we are very fortunate nowadays to live in an open world economy where you can move easily, where you can try out different jobs with many more connections between them than before. When this hit me, I realized that finally, having a lot of choices wasn't so bad.

Give it a little time, go along with the flow and roll with the punches, do some research, get inspired, and most of all try, try and try… Because you will surely find more opportunities and meet more interesting people this way than if you take things pessimistically. Yes, everything is a matter of mindset.

Last but not least: even if I am young, and some may say with very limited life experience, this article aims to tell you a bit more about how it worked out for me. If this can help even 1 person, then my mission here is accomplished.

Cheers 

Alexandre

☁ All views are my own and not that of Oracle ☁