When I was 22, I was quite certain that I would be a technical design engineer, working on the structural designs of houses or bridges or stormwater drainage systems.
I never dreamed that I would be writing articles like this one. Or giving Graduate addresses. Or working more as a management consultant than as an engineer. Or creating a blog and career coaching business.
From our teenage years onwards, society asks us to pick a career. Even when we’ve managed to choose one as a graduate, the questions keep rolling in – what do you want to be doing in 5 years? What’s your long term vision?
It can be a bit daunting.
While linear career paths are possible, like the ‘traditional’ engineering career path from junior engineer through to senior technical specialist or engineering business leader, the truth is that our careers can be so much more than anything we pre-define.
In fact, you will never know with full certainty what your path will be. Instead, we can take the next step forward, create a vision for ourselves while also embracing the fact that as we grow and evolve, our careers will as well.
Building a career is a journey of evolution and self-discovery
A career is less about the boxes you think you should tick and more about the journey you take to become the person you want to be and the contribution you want to make to society.
A career is a collection of experiences where you are learning, contributing, and growing. A career that is fulfilling connects to your truth, it gives you opportunity to do things that light you up as well as make a difference in the world.
What we so often get wrong is the attachment to figuring this out from day 1 of our career. We want to plan it to a tee. We think that once we’ve made the decision for our first job or internship, that’s it. Even when we’re senior, we might worry about the feared “pigeon hole”.
The thing is, we have to get comfortable with something kind of uncomfortable: uncertainty. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we still need to plan for it.
If we view our career as a journey of self-discovery, we create openness to opportunity and change. We recognise we can take the next step forward with confidence, knowing we are giving something a go which helps us continue the quest to understand what our soul’s calling might be.
My journey
I studied Arts and Engineering at uni because of an interest in languages, history and music as well as physics, maths and science. It’s not the “traditional” study combination for an engineer but I pursued it because it suited my interests.
As I progressed through my career, I dove headfirst into any experience I could. I was curious about the engineering world and wanted to learn as much as I could. Curiosity fueled me, and I started to realise that I loved people-oriented, strategic roles. I started to realise I wanted to contribute to social issues as well.
So I started writing online, and created Her Bold Universe. I pivoted out of engineering and into advisory consulting.
This evolution took time. It took conversations with mentors, research, and soul-searching. But as I reflect on it with the benefit of hindsight, I realise how grateful I am that I did take these leaps of faith, listened to my truth, and challenged my comfort zone. It was this commitment to my own growth and journey that has allowed me to build a career I couldn’t have imagined when I was 22.
***
While some people experience a linear career path that they love and is their truth, others might not. There’s a sense of something being “not quite right”, and it’s often because we’re trying to squeeze ourselves into a predefined career and ignoring the sparks of curiosity that could lead us to a career that connects to our truth.
Maybe I’m biased, but engineering careers could be the most wondrous of all careers. They provide so much flexibility: the possibility of absolute depth in a specialist field all the way through to pivoting into other fields, bringing with you critical thinking, the ability to learn quickly, and unsurpassed problem solving skills.
With this flexibility comes responsibility to your future self: don’t limit yourself. Don’t put blinkers on. Instead, allow yourself to expand. Listen to what lights you up. Create a career that might not look traditional, and see where it takes you.
Actionable takeaways
- No matter where you are in your journey, keep your mind and heart open to new experiences and new opportunities to continue to evolve and grow
- Embrace career uncertainty and be ok with not necessarily knowing all the answers. Embrace this paradox: you can plan your career, but still welcome evolution.
- Listen to what calls to you and make it a habit. I don’t believe we are ever done with learning about the world and what makes us come alive and how we want to contribute
- Make the next right step, but don’t stress about this being the perfect step for your unknown future. We can’t ever predict the future so all we can do is our best in the present moment.
This article was originally written by Meg Fanning (Panozzo) for Edition #55 of Engineers Australia Women in Engineering Sydney Division Quarterly Newsletter.
