Throughout your education and career, you will likely face times of uncertainty. It may come rapidly, as with an unexpected loss of a job or sudden changes in research funding, or it might mount gradually as you contemplate a new direction or adjust to changing responsibilities. Whether sudden or subtle, however, these stretches of precariousness can understandably cause anxiety, frustration, and even resentment. Left unchecked, these responses can in turn make it more difficult to move forward in your education or career. Here are some strategies for practicing resilience and navigating uncertainty, no matter what stage of your career you encounter it:
Get to Know Yourself
When you don’t know what the future holds or feel powerless to address the obstacles in your life, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. For this reason, it’s important to focus on what you can know and control. A great place to start is by looking inward and reflecting on your goals, values, strengths, and needs. Doing this will help you to recognize the types of opportunities that most align with your priorities, even in unexpected places. You’ll also develop a deeper sense of confidence in your ability to move toward your goals, even if the path forward isn’t as clear or direct as it may have once been. You’ll also have a better idea of what types of things you might be willing to compromise without endangering your long-term goals or sense of professional fulfillment. Knowing yourself and your personal priorities can help you meet challenges with confidence and adapt effectively to uncertainty and change.
There are many ways that you can conduct this type of self-reflection in different parts of your life. For many people, it’s helpful to start by assessing your values and reflecting on what matters most to you in a particular stage of your life and education. What you value might be a matter of social fulfillment: perhaps it’s important that you work as part of a team, or that you see the impact of your work in the world. Or you might prioritize more tangible things, like living in a specific region or earning a particular salary. No matter what you find most important to your life, it’s helpful to take the time to reflect on and name those values. Because these can naturally evolve over time, you may also make a practice of intentionally asking yourself “what matters most to me?” as you face times of transition and uncertainty. The answer to this question will in turn help you know where to focus as you navigate your career and education.
Once you’ve done that, you might also reflect on your strengths and interests. You may already know that you love (or hate) your current position, but have you really considered why? Does one part of your research, teaching, or coursework as a graduate student excite you more than others? Are you exhausted just thinking about something else? Recognizing the reasons you feel these ways and reflecting carefully on what that means for your short- and long-term goals will reveal a lot about what you’re looking for and help you recognize it when you find it. Contemplating what aspects of your professional and academic life you find most meaningful, challenging, exciting, or draining can help foster a broader sense of your professional potential as you recognize new avenues to do the work you love most.
Click here for more information about the role that reflection can play as you face uncertainty, and for resources to help guide you through an assessment of your skills and values.
Broaden your Imagination
As a scholar, you've dedicated a lot of time and energy in pursuit of very specific academic and professional goals. But if those goals no longer seem attainable (or desirable), you might find yourself feeling lost and unsure of where to turn. That lack of clarity can be very uncomfortable, and you might find yourself tempted to avoid that discomfort by focusing your attention and energy on parts of your life and career that seem most familiar. In these moments, however, it's important to venture into that sense of uncertainty in order to look for possibility where you might not expect it. This is because if we define our career trajectory too rigidly, or confine our imagination to a narrow range of possibilities, we're likely overlooking countless alternative routes to fulfilling careers.
So, occasionally try imagining yourself in different careers than you’ve considered in the past. In particular, ask how your expertise and skills might add value in alternative roles. You might also challenge yourself to take some (responsible) risks and try new things – look for chances to work outside your field, to collaborate on a new topic, or explore new professional and personal interests. As you do so, you'll likely find that the same skills that help you succeed as a graduate student have set you up for just as much success in a number of other ways. With that recognition, you'll be equipped to navigate uncertainty with flexibility. In this article, you can learn more about considering alternative paths for your future.
Counter Uncertainty with Curiosity
One trait that graduate students have in abundance is curiosity. That's very fortunate, because curiosity can be a valuable asset in exploring possible futures and meeting challenging moments. Following your curiosity will help you more naturally explore uncertain directions while motivating you to reflect and make sense of what you find there. For many people, the most effective way to counter uncertainty is with curiosity.
In your professional and academic life, you can cultivate a strong sense of curiosity by periodically taking the time to encounter new ideas, academic topics, and professions by attending events, reading online resources, and hearing the perspectives of others. As you do so, make note of questions that come up in the course of this exploration (or even in your everyday life) and thoughtfully reflect on what you might not already know. Once you have a sense of what you’d like to learn, you can follow that curiosity to new insights, perspectives, and opportunities. You’ll look to connect with people that can answer your questions or help you find direction along your way. Over time, you may start to notice patterns and trends in what you learn, and you might come to recognize new opportunities where your skills might apply and where you might find fulfillment.
Curiosity probably played an important role in what brought you to graduate school. Let it play a similar role as you move into the next chapter of your career. Want to learn more? This article has suggestions for how curiosity and creativity can unlock opportunities
Remember that You Aren't Alone
Navigating your career can feel lonely, but especially when the future is unclear, it's important to recognize that you're not alone. Look to those that know your professional and academic abilities best for community and support when times are challenging. Discuss your concerns or uncertainties with trusted colleagues and mentors who might be familiar with the circumstances you're facing. Reconnect with professional acquaintances and look for opportunities to meet others that might have their own experience finding fulfilling careers in a field like yours. While these connections may not be able to directly solve the challenges you're facing, they will likely offer valuable information and support that will help you navigate them with confidence.
The Graduate College is one resource available to help support you as you navigate uncertainties and challenges in your education and career. Whether you're looking at new career paths, facing unexpected obstacles in your education, or are managing a job search, we're here to help with one-on-one support and resources to help you succeed, even in the face of uncertainty.
Jess Holmes is the Assistant Director for Career & Professional Development at the Graduate College. Before joining the Graduate College in 2024, Jess worked professionally in roles with nonprofits and financial services companies and helped coordinate an internship program for the University of Illinois Department of Political Science.
