It’s been a little over a month since I made the decision to quit my permanent job as a Scrum Master and it’s been a rollercoster of emotions. From the high of knowing that I’ll soon have some time to myself, to the oh-shit-what-do-I-do-next moments where I find myself googling the requirements for various jobs, some tech-related and some far from it.
I’ve been trying through this foggy period to pay attention to the thoughts and actions that ring true for me, and those that don’t, and be clear about the things that really matter to me in my next job.
If this all sounds too wishy washy, let me give you an example. I had an interview a couple weeks ago for a Scrum Master position at a very large German organisation. It was my first formal interview since deciding to leave my current position and although there were a couple key aspects of the job that didn’t fit my ideal job situation, I found myself getting attached to what getting this job would mean.
What it would mean is that I wouldn’t need to apply to any other jobs and that I could relax for a month in between finishing my current job and starting the next thing. Sure, there were also positive aspects about the job itself but, if I was being honest with myself, the biggest appeal was that it was a job.
There are definitely times when getting a job is more important than what the job is. Like eight years ago when I moved to Germany and I got a job as a data scientist at a microlending company. It was my first data science job and I was so worried that I wouldn’t have another offer that I went with it and didn’t apply anywhere else.
I’m not saying that I regret taking that offer, simply that, looking back, fear and lack of confidence played a bigger role in that decision than I would have liked. Now, eight years down the line, I’m less fearful and have a much better sense of what I want and what I bring to the table.
So let’s go back to the job: I didn’t get it. Was I disappointed? Yes. Did the disappointment last? No. Am I glad it turned out to be a ‘no’? Too soon to say. Getting rejected has however made me take a closer look at what I want to do next and what kind of environment I want to be part of.
Stay tuned 😉