How to Deal With Conflicting Career Advice - The Muse

How to Deal With Conflicting Career Advice - The MuseHow to Deal With Conflicting Career Advice When it comes to your career, have you ever been on the receiving end of conflicting advice? I sure have- too many times to count.There are plenty of instances- from interview outfits to the quality of my major presentation- when peoples opinions about my career didnt quite match up. But, nothing compares to when I welches considering quitting my secure full-time job to pursue a freelance writing career.Mentors in my existing industry thought I was insane, while the people I looked up to in the writing field were practically pushing me off the cliff. My manager stared at me like I said I was going to join the circus, while my parents were endlessly supportive. My close friends told me I could do anything, while random networking acquaintances told me it would never work.The thought alone makes me short of breath. Can you relate? People have a lot of opinions, and they dont always complimen t each other. In fact, sometimes theyre plain ol contradictory.Youre taught to seek the counsel and guidance of others- particularly when it comes to your career. But, where can you turn when all of that advice doesnt serve to push you in one clear direction?Heres what I learned through my own (oftentimes stressful and sweat-inducing) experience.1. Consider the SourcePeople dont just form opinions out of thin air. Instead, their viewpoints are shaped by their own unique backgrounds and experiences. Your beloved grandma might feel confident that a career change at this point would certainly be a detriment- but, thats likely because she comes from a generation when career exploration wasnt necessarily a norm. So, when it comes to receiving advice, remember to think about what sorts of circumstances could lead that person to feel that way. Is this someone with a solid handle on your particular situation, or is he or she coming at it with a certain bias or lack of understanding? Adding some conditions to whose suggestions carry weight isnt always a bad (or insulting) thing. Remember, its totally possible to trust someone without trusting his or her expertise in every single scenario. 2. Know Your ValuesWhen I would tell people that I was planning to bid adieu to my co-workers in favor of working totally alone, many had responses that looked something like, Ugh, I couldnt stand having to do everything myselfIll admit that sentiments like those planted a few seeds of doubt in my brain. But, then I realized something To me, forging my own path and doing things totally alone was one of the things that excited me most about my new adventure.Tying back to the fact that people have their own individual outlooks, its important for you to get a solid handle on your own passions and ambitions. What do you think? What do you want? With that information in your back pocket, youll be able to better consider other peoples recommendations through your own lens. When I discovered that I valued a sense of stability in my career, for example, peoples warnings that the freelance life came with a lot of uncertainty carried a little more weight in my decision-making process. Be forewarned, this step doesnt mean that your values and priorities can never shift and evolve. However, its important that you take the time to get in tune with your own desires before you confuse yourself too much with the fears and yearnings of everybody else around you. 3. Give Yourself a Gut CheckOftentimes, you already know what you want to do with those major career decisions. Youre just waiting for everybody to leap to their feet and offer a rousing, Yes Thats the right moveBut, what should you do in those situations when you really feel lost as to what advice to follow and which route to choose? Well, theres nothing like a good ol fashioned gut check.Im serious- narrow down your two options and then flip a coin. Heres the tricky part You dont actually have to stick with what the co in lands on. But, as its tumbling through the air and your whole life seems to move in slow motion, youll likely get a pretty strong inkling as to what side you want to be face up. When that happens? You, my friend, have just made your decision- conflicting advice and all. In the world of career questions, there arent a lot of black and white answers- thats exactly why there are so many contradictory opinions and suggestions out there. Should you quit that job? Make that career change? Go for that promotion? Itd be nice if there was a one-size-fits all answer to those sorts of questions. But, there isnt. Ultimately, the best you can do is consider as many perspectives as possible (yes, even when they dont perfectly line up) and decide on the right way forward for you. Youre the only one who actually knows what that is.Still struggling to see your way to the other side? Take this decision-making advice and pretend youre counseling a friend in your exact same situation. I promise- it works