Career Mapping Curveballs
By Nicole Fronek
Growth, financial maturity, and a healthy work-life balance – an optimal career trifecta. Those once eager to ascend the ladder may find a loss of ambition during the climb. A stumble weakening confidence in choices made to date may question whether it all has been worth it, or what the next best step is after all. Individuals desire assurance from a sense of belonging and validation of decisions. Employees appreciate being recognized for a job well done and as professionals, expect a reasonable amount of autonomy in working through daily tasks. Employers focus on the bottom line; growth among the ranks generally when determined to be of benefit to the organization.
As a high school graduate, I was set on being an interior designer. Unlike many classmates, I KNEW what career I wanted to pursue. Having a concrete plan from the onset seemed advantageous. Rather than ‘finding myself’ in college, a focus on earning my degree quickly was the objective. Apprenticeships and coursework were selected with ease. I had it all figured out! (Cue the eyeroll); following graduation and an initial year in the workforce, meager paychecks loudly proclaimed otherwise. Low wages and a student loan repayment plan placed me squarely in the center of the ‘‘what will I do with my life’ category.
I would decorate multimillion-dollar homes only to return to my humble apartment furnished with second-hand furniture, rust orange carpet, and an avocado green stove. A brass-plated dining room chandelier, outfitted with flame-shaped bulbs hung too low for an eight-foot-high ceiling. While bright enough to light the room, the fixture ironically darkened my designer soul. A materialistic viewpoint some could argue, however as a student of the arts and a design community professional, beauty derived from form and function was not only admired, but sought after. Determined to one day surround myself in design was not an option.
The search for roles related to the interior design world was a top priority as to remain relevant within the industry. From a few years in hospitality and furniture manufacturing, to an unexpected opening at a commercial signage company, a career track of project management proved to be the clear choice. Project coordination and manager roles earned notoriety within the technology sector long before gaining recognition of importance and value on a universallevel. Understood to generate outcomes associated with cost and time saving efficiencies, project management offices (PMO) remain of interest among senior leadership.
From a coordinator, to an associate project manager, my career path was fast tracking, and far quicker than anticipated. In parallel, a decision to return to college was made to diversify my educational profile and increase marketability. After two years in project management, roles both unique and unexpected filled a once lean resume. With each semester, special assignments at various companies created positive exposure. A once flat development mapping shifted to dynamic and only limited by hours in a day.
From one role to the next across Fortune 100 organizations, client-related travel increased, thereby affording added visibility of senior leadership. As skill sets deepened, shifts in my resume responded to responsibilities from various capacities. This chain of events is shared to highlight that regardless of having a plan early on, the path I originally selected was short lived and fell flat. Staying the course was an option, however cutting my losses a wiser decision. As difficult as it was to decline design magazine subscription renewals, I could not ignore reality, or hope for success on a grand scale.
When unsure where to start, evaluate the economy and market demand. Associated variables may positively, or negatively impact companies of consideration for employment. If your area of expertise is already prone to a saturated market, or is trending towards redundancy, a change in direction is prudent. Alternatively, consumer demands or product development might expose an area where individual growth could accelerate to align with internal needs of a current employer or client. When there is not enough information, it is reasonable to pause efforts while evaluating an approach. During such times of consideration, do not ignore the likelihood that the subsequent move may be up to you. A willingness to create an opportunity where one is not found, thereby a strategic play.
About the Author
Known as ‘The Coach’, Nicole brings two decades of project management expertise supporting Fortune 100 organizations – namely CBRE, Chevron, HP, Citigroup, and Marriott International. She also offers five years of interior design experience, inclusive of commercial conversion portfolios for Beverly Hills based developers. Nicole holds a BA in Communications from California State University, Fullerton, and an MSc in Project Management from The University of Liverpool. Publications include Corporate Coach Approach – A Systematic Guide to Career Development.
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