Episode Transcript
When you find yourself faced with an interesting engineering opportunity – a new job or role that you think you should consider for your career – you hesitate.
You’re uncertain. Maybe even skeptical.
Because something about it seems… not right.
But if you’re gonna pursue this opportunity, you need to decide now.
You don’t want to miss a good opportunity.
But you don’t want to take on a bad one either.
What to do? And why is this so hard?
Well, there’s a funny thing about opportunity: It can be deceptive.
3 Ways Opportunities Can Be Deceptive in Your Engineering Career
There are 3 main ways that opportunities deceive you in your engineering career:
- they bring pause,
- they’re disguised,
- and they’re unforeseen.
Let’s take a closer look at these deceptions.
1. Opportunities Bring Pause
Many women engineers don’t recognize a good opportunity because they’re waiting.
They’re waiting for someone to ask them to take on a job or a role.
They’re waiting for someone to encourage them to apply.
Or someone to affirm they’re a good candidate.
The problem with this is that opportunities usually don’t happen that way.
I know I missed a couple opportunities in my career due to this deception.
Instead of waiting for others to point out opportunities, I should’ve been aware of them on my own.
I should’ve recognized when a good one came along. And taken action to pursue it.
If you wait, you’ll wait too long.
And during that pause, opportunities pass you by.
2. Opportunities Are Disguised
Sometimes an opportunity doesn’t look like it’s right for you.
It doesn’t look like it’ll allow you to make your unique contribution.
It deceives you into thinking it would be a bad choice for your career.
But your first impression might be mistaken.
Take a closer look. It may actually be an opportunity to boost your career in unexpected ways.
Even if, at first, it doesn’t look like it aligns with your goals.
And even if it takes you on a detour from your current career path.
In recent interviews for my upcoming book I heard many stories from women engineers about being skeptical of a job opportunity.
An opportunity that even their mentors doubted as a suitable job.
And advised not taking it.
Most of these opportunities were “fix-it” type jobs.
Meaning, a business is in the red, or a project is failing, or a customer is dissatisfied.
Situations that need someone to go in and turn them around.
But each woman heard that voice inside telling her she could do it.
Telling her she could be successful.
And those who took the risk not only were successful but ended up at a key pivot point in their careers.
The experience propelled them to new heights.
3. Opportunities Are Unforeseen
Opportunities tend to appear when you least expect them.
And when you’re not prepared for them.
When this happens, you’re deceived into thinking it’s not the right time for this role.
Into thinking you should pass on it.
But it’s rare that a good opportunity appears when you want it to.
And you hardly ever feel ready to take one on.
And you don’t want to miss out on all of them.
So instead expect the unexpected. And be comfortable with uncomfortable.
You are ready. And it is the right time.
It just doesn’t feel that way.
Don’t be afraid to jump out of your current role and jump into a new one. It all works out.
Stretch into your next challenge. So that you learn and grow, and it’s not same-old or boring.
Taking risk builds confidence.
I found this deception especially challenging in the context of life balance.
If an opportunity didn’t line up with my family milestones, I usually turned it down.
Now, looking back, I see this was a mistake. Because I was assuming I couldn’t make it work.
But there’s always a way to make it work.
Tips for How to Decide on an Engineering Career Opportunity
Determining whether to take on a new career opportunity is not an easy decision.
Here are 4 tips to help you through the process:
- Use Intuition – How do you know if an opportunity is right for you?
Sometimes you don’t. It’s just a feeling.
So be attentive to your intuition. And trust your gut.
- Recognize Fear of Failure – There’s no such thing as failure as long as you learn from it.
Exercise your risk muscle.
And don’t be afraid to do what you never thought you could.
- Be Careful of Advice – Advice is for you to consider. But you don’t have to take it.
Listen to your mentors and advisors.
But be sure you’re making your own decision based on what’s right for you.
- Ask Yourself Questions for Clarity:
- Will I learn and grow?
- How does this opportunity help me in the end?
- Does it lead to another new opportunity?
- A promotion or a raise?
- What do I have to lose if I take it?
- What will I miss out on if I turn it down?
Don’t let a good career opportunity deceive you.
Be watching and aware of opportunities when they appear.
Take care not to turn an opportunity down right away just because your skeptical or afraid or uncertain.
Make your own decision about it. And be proactive in your response.
I challenge you to be bold in choosing your next career move.
Because opportunity is what enables you to make your contribution.
And leads you to a more fulfilling engineering career.
Next time on Her Engineering Career Podcast we’ll explore the second superpower that gives women an edge as engineering leaders.
Be sure to tune in for Episode 171.