Career Indecision

Do you remember? Remember the nights where you stare up at a wall and wonder, "What's next?" Finding yourself asking that question over and over again until finally you realize that exact question will help you define who you will be? Or more importantly, what you will be. The stress and the worry that comes with the worry of career decision, and often, career indecision can sometimes help us become who we were meant to be all along.

I think back personally, to my own career indecision. Growing up, I desperately wanted to be a comic book writer. But as I grew up, I realized by childhood dream was unlikely. I found myself looking into marketing, and I stuck with that idea until my junior year of college. I found myself looking at a wall every night wondering if what I was about to do was going to truthfully be meaningful to me and, most importantly, would I be happy? The answer that I kept coming up with was simple, “No”. I was not going to be happy.

So there I was, a junior entering my second semester, having career indecision to the highest degree. I was so worried and concerned that I wasn’t ready for the real world, that I was too immature. But, as Savickas states from the view of indecision as a subjective experience, “indecision is part of the normal experience that occurs when people are about to lose their place” (Savickas, 1995). I did lose my place, I didn’t know where I belonged. I didn’t know who or what I was supposed to be. Thankfully I found my place.

I was able to find my new major in Education and Psychology, and go into school counseling. It took some time. I spent many hours with my advisors and college counselor to help me make sure that this was the correct choice. Sure enough, it was the best decision for me. Now I find myself driving 50 minutes to my graduate assistant job at Millersville University, going to class, and coming home satisfied with my decision. When I ask myself will I be happy, I have a new answer: “yes”.

In reading Savickas article, I was able to look deeper into indecision and how it is viewed through the world of counseling. I was able to analyze myself and see how I progressed in career indecision, and side more with the view of indecision as a subjective experience. I can see myself becoming a counselor to help them resolve career indecisions by discussing the necessary steps to move towards their career goals.

Savickas, M. (1995). Constructivist Counseing for Career Indecision. The Career Development Quarterly, 43 (4) 363-373