Instead, think of your career as a smartphone, the career expert says.
“Your education and upbringing is your out-of-the-box model,” she says. “Now it’s up to you to download different apps for skills, interests, experience and education that are going to help you start to build momentum in your career.”
Even if you’re working outside of the industry you’d like to be in, take note of what you like and what you don’t like about your current role.
This will help you figure out what you want to do with your life, says Blake, author of “Pivot: The Only Move that Matters is Your Next One.“
Make note of the skills you may be learning, such as communication skills, problem solving skills or teamwork, all of which are soft skills employers are looking for right now. Add them to your resume so you can be more marketable for your next job.
“It’s OK if you’re trying a number of different things,” Blake says. “You’re understanding what you’re best at, what you most enjoy.”
By figuring out what types of projects and work environments you like in your 20s, in addition to gaining skills, you’ll be on your way to becoming an expert in a field in your 30s.
In other words, give yourself a break.