Most people who choose the wrong career path fall into what I call the “first job that comes along” syndrome. It’s a classic mistake where youâre so relieved to land a job that you donât pause to think about whether itâs a good fit.
Raise your hand if youâve ever taken a job simply because it sounded good or paid well, only to realize once you’re in it that itâs not the right job for you. You quickly discover exactly what you donât want in a role, but by then, you’re already in it.
The “First Job That Comes Along” Syndrome & The Importance Of Self-Assessment
The problem with this syndrome is that it leaves you with a “rock” in your career journey. I keep a rock on my desk as a reminder because, for many of us, these experiencesâlike taking a job that wasnât the right fitâcan weigh us down, making us doubt ourselves. But let me be clear: You didnât make a bad decision. At the time, you simply didnât have enough information to make an informed choice.
Each of these jobs youâve taken has taught you something, especially what you donât want in your next job. The mistake many of us make, however, is that we continue jumping from job to job, just trying to avoid those unwanted aspects. This leads to a cycle of career dissatisfaction. You realize you chose the wrong career path, but you don’t know how to choose the right one.
Hereâs where I want to stop you. Letâs clear the slate and drop those “rocks” for a moment. Instead of focusing on what you donât want, letâs figure out who you are as a professional. How do you like to create value? What excites you? What kind of work would make your day feel less like a grind and more like fulfillment?
To get this clarity, we need to explore several key areas:
- What role does your career play in your life? Is it just a way to pay the bills, something that brings satisfaction, or a calling that defines you?
- What are your work preferences? Your communication style? How do you learn best on the job?
- What types of tasks energize you, and which ones drain you?
Most people donât take the time to assess these thingsâand unfortunately, itâs not something weâre taught to do in school. Instead, we end up following what others suggest, which often leads us down a path of trial and error. Thatâs why so many people hit a career crisis two or three jobs in, wondering how they ended up in a field they despise.
One of the biggest hurdles to making a change at this point is career continuity. Employers often hire based on your past experience, which makes switching careers feel like starting over. And letâs be honest, who wants to start overâespecially if youâve built a lifestyle around your current salary?
So whatâs the solution? Deep self-assessment. And I have two free tools that can help you do that right now.
Tool #1: The ISAT (Interaction Style Assessment Test)
This quiz is going to tell you what your dominant communication style is in the workplace. Are you a Contemplator, a Commander, an Energizer, or an Empathizer? Understanding this about yourself can help you figure out why some jobs have been a better fit than others. Plus, itâll shed light on why you get along with certain co-workers but struggle with others. You can take this free quiz here.
Tool #2: The Career Decoder
Back in 2015, we developed this quiz after coaching thousands of professionals who didnât know what kind of work they wanted to do. This quiz asks a series of “would you rather” questions that reveal your top three workplace personas. There are eight workplace personas in totalâeight ways people like to create value in their jobsâand while weâre capable of doing all eight, we donât enjoy them equally.
By identifying your top three workplace personas, we can match your natural strengths and preferences with job roles that are a better fit. You can take this free quiz here.
When you combine the results of the Career Decoder with your ISAT results, youâll start to see a clear picture of the types of jobs and environments that align with who you are as a professional.
Start Your Journey Today
In just a few minutes, these two quizzes will give you powerful insights into why youâve enjoyed certain roles more than othersâand, more importantly, theyâll help guide you toward the jobs that will truly light you up, getting you on the right career path. You can find both quizzes here.
If this resonates with you, itâs time to shift your focus from what you donât want in a job to discovering who you are and what kind of work brings out your best self. Start unlocking your professional potential today!
Good luck! Go get ’em.
