Past behaviour is the best way to predict future behaviour. This sounds more complicated than it is, because it is very simple. The principle is deeply ingrained in all of us – you too. Consciously or unconsciously, you judge others based on what they have done before. This means you don't trust dogs that have bitten before, or let someone who cheated at Monopoly be the Banker. The principle is taught in Aesop's fable of «The Boy Who Cried Wolf» and is the basis for sayings like «once a thief, always a thief.».
In recruitment, this principle is used when looking at past behaviour to predict how well a candidate will fit a job. The method is called situational interview technique and involves asking about situations that demonstrate behaviour. Instead of asking «how do you handle stress», the candidate is asked to describe a stressful situation. By asking about a real situation, one learns more about how candidates have previously handled stress.
Not all recruiters use situational interview techniques, but consciously or unconsciously, all use «the golden recruitment rule». If you search for job advertisements on finn.no, you will find that the most common qualification sought is «experience from [...]». The requirement for experience appears more often than for being self-motivated, analytical, team-oriented, or other common qualifications. And for employers looking to hire, it is completely logical: if you have managed to complete tasks before, there is a high chance you will manage them again!
Although this principle offers value in many employment processes, it does have some downsides. This way of assessing candidates can lead to you getting caught up in the vortex of your own career.
Mistakes in hiring cost a lot of money, so few people take the chance of employing individuals who cannot prove their competence. This makes it difficult to change jobs without having experience to show for it. Whether you like it or not, you become trapped by choices you've made previously. The longer you've followed a career path, the more relevant you become for the same types of jobs. The downside is that it simultaneously becomes harder to get opportunities to work with something else.
What can one do when they realise they are ready for a change of direction? The following three tips are worth reflecting on if you wish to work with something other than what you do today:
Tip 1: There are more options than you know.
When you imagine what you want, it's based on the knowledge you have about different jobs. People you've spoken to, worked with, or read about. There are obviously exciting jobs you don't know about. It might also be that you would enjoy jobs you don't currently think are interesting. Given this, it's wise to broaden your horizons on the possibilities you know about. Be curious about what has actually given you energy in the jobs you've had, and challenge yourself to broaden your horizons on «possible jobs» you could imagine yourself doing.
Tip 2: You won't get a new job without having something to show for it.
You must be able to «prove» that you have genuine motivation and a desire to develop in the direction you want. Anything you do that proves motivation and helps build experience is good. To build new experience, you can, for example, take on relevant extra tasks in your current job, or do volunteer work that exposes you to relevant situations. If you have the opportunity, take courses and read up on the field. Actively share relevant articles you find on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. These things will help prove that you have genuine motivation and have actually started moving in a new direction career-wise.
Tip 3: Things won't change if you don't do something about the situation
It goes without saying that it's best if you Veterinarian what you want to work with, but not everyone knows this. Many who want to change jobs want to away from the job they have, and not til a job they want. If one wants to leave a job, almost anything else can seem attractive, and then it's easy to choose the wrong thing. If you choose the wrong thing and have to switch again after a short time, it can have negative consequences for self-confidence, relationships and market value. So even if you don't know where you want to go – do no to move forward. Whether that's talking to people, reading up on jobs, or simply quitting the job you have.
