La vida es corta pero es ancha

So, I've graduated from university with a very multifaceted degree but am for the most part unemployed, save a job not intended to be a career in the least.

Recently I picked up, "You Majored in What?: Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career" by Katherine Brooks, a career guru. What initially caught my eye was the word chaos as I am very interested in complexity science. Most of you have probably heard of the butterfly effect, a metaphor that encapsulates the interdependency of dynamic systems by showing how a small initial action like the flap of a butterfly's wings can produce a greater event long term, i.e. Tornado.

Well, the book deconstructs the notion that one's major implies a linear path to a career. That is, it stresses the importance of unpredictable events in shaping our career paths i.e. networking events or meeting a friend of a friend. As these circumstances can not be forecast long in advance, Brooks coaches the reader on becoming a "Wise Wanderer" - a person who is not clueless in their job hunt but rather open-minded to the unexpected opportunities that await.

As a kid, I spent a lot of time thinking about perspective and got excited when I realized that our perception of reality is contingent upon our proximity to what we experience. I pictured someone standing right up against a painting. Nose almost touching. If asked they would describe the texture of that small area within their view, the colours, and the jumbled patterns. I pictured another person standing so far away that all they could make out was the basic form of the entire painting. I then realized that an optimal distance is required to see the entire painting and went on to apply it to social contexts and what not. Now, I apply this painting allegory to my quest to find the right career.

Brooks mentions abductive reasoning which also stresses looking at the overall picture rather than basing decisions off of single factors. When life seems chaotic we may just be too close to our problems to realize the underlying order - just like in my painting observation! By finding patterns, and connections between interests and your qualifications you can pay attention to and take advandage of those unpredicted opportunities mentioned earlier.

My next step is drafting up a "wandering map" which connects the dots between my experiences, knowledge and interests.

I'll let you know how that goes.