Career Girls

By Ana von Turkovich

 

We all make decisions every day: What do I want for breakfast? What time do I need to leave to get to school (or work) on time? Do I want to stay up late watching a movie or get some sleep so I can make it to that 6:00AM yoga class? Many decisions are fairly simple and can be made independently after quick consideration.

 

Some decisions are more difficult. They may require a more complex set of criteria and have a greater impact on your life.  College is a good example of this, and the decisions students need to make start well before they step foot on campus: What am I interested in studying? Where do I want to apply? How do I get there?

 

All of this happens during a time in our lives when we are determined to prove our ability to be independent, when our first instinct is sometimes to reject the help or advice of a more experienced or knowledgeable person in our lives. That desire to be self-sufficient is so important, and it’s a quality that will serve us well, that will push us to study a little longer for an exam or put in that extra effort on a project. It fuels our determination and helps us become resourceful, independent adults. It can also cause us to overlook valuable resources that are right in front of us.

 

I’m a recent college graduate, now employed as an account manager for a high-tech company that designs computers for rugged or harsh environments, such as with robotics applications. Recently, I was preparing for my annual review (also called a performance review). Annual reviews are a common part of many jobs. For me, it’s an opportunity to review accomplishments with my team leader or supervisor as well as to set goals for the upcoming year. While completing a worksheet to prepare for my review, I came across a section that required me to rate my effectiveness at appropriately leveraging internal resources—for example, consulting with members of the engineering and product management teams to learn more about our products so that I can more effectively meet our customers’ needs. Making use of the resources available to me at work, including colleagues with different skills and experience, helps me to improve my own performance.   

 

Knowing where to go or who to reach out to for help is a skill that I am developing over time, and it’s not always comfortable. I can think back to specific moments in college when I knew there was someone who was not only available, but was in a role dedicated specifically to helping me, whether that was an academic advisor or a career counselor. Often, when I didn’t seek help, it was because I felt like I should have been able to figure it out all on my own. There were other times when I did seek guidance from others, and that has always led to greater success.

 

Independence is truly an important quality. But having the wisdom to leverage the resources that are available to you is just as important. Who are the people in your life who can help you reach your goals? Teachers, school counselors, college advisors, coaches, mentors, parents, grandparents, team leaders, older siblings . . . these are just a few examples of people who can help you get where you want to go. Here’s what I learned as I made my way through college and into my first career: Most people want to help. We just need to be brave enough to ask.