Written by Jessica Skinner
Not everything will go according to plan.
The Career Coaches know this firsthand from their own journeys.
“I didn’t have an idea of what I wanted to do until senior year of college. Then, when I graduated college and went to grad school, I wanted to be an academic and teach in higher education. Ultimately, I ended up working in higher education administration. So while it’s related to what I thought about back then, it’s still a very different path.” – Ryan Turf
“I’m probably a bit of a late bloomer. I was a psychology major at the University of San Francisco… I ended up working in the wine industry in San Francisco. But I hit a wall with how much I could grow in that line of work. So, I pursued my MBA here at LMU, and that’s when things really changed for me.” – Chris Caughman
“My career path is so different from what I expected. I thought I wanted to go into academia, be a scientist, and be a professor. Long story short, I went to grad school, but then I left, pivoted, tried different jobs, and eventually went back to school—this time in a more science-education-focused way. There’s always been this theme for me of science and working with people, so in a way, I guess it doesn’t surprise me where I ended up.” – Erika Zocher
Embrace Change
“There’s always going to be change around you. Remember that it’s natural and prepare for it rather than being afraid of it. You’ll always be updating your resume, networking, and re-evaluating your career.” – Ryan Turf
“It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to walk away from something that’s not right for you.” – Erika Zocher
Explore with Intentionality
“What you may want may not come until later in life, but you should take every opportunity to explore what’s ahead of you. Take every job seriously, with intentionality, to extract the most value from it for your own development.” – Thuy Le
“You always take the meeting. You don’t know where a certain meeting or opportunity can lead—and you’ll never find out unless you make yourself available to it.” – Chris Caughman
Everything Is a Learning Opportunity (Even a Quarter-Life Crisis)
“By the time I was 25, I definitely had my quarter-life crisis. I even bought the book. I learned to observe the work I was doing as part of the journey. I didn’t enjoy every job, but looking back, I can say I gained wisdom here, built relationships there… Just remember, work is not your entire life. It’s part of life. It can be meaningful, but it doesn’t have to be the end-all, be-all.” – Thuy Le
Lessons Learned (a.k.a. Hannah Montana Was Right: Everybody Makes Mistakes)
“I was supposed to book a hotel room for my manager and myself for a conference. I accidentally booked us in the same room—and she was not used to rooming with someone else. So, I’d say double-check expectations with your manager if you’ve never done something before. Make sure you’re on the same page.” – Thuy Le
“The resume I had as a college senior was horrible. I waited too long to start building my brand. I wish I had invested more time earlier in writing resumes, practicing cover letters, and doing mock interviews instead of waiting until an application or interview deadline forced me to.” – Ryan Turf
“I saw the effects of not having a plan or being engaged. I wish I could have told myself to be more proactive—there’s no downside in that.” – Chris Caughman
Seek a Support System
“A career transition can be a beautiful experience, but it’s best done in an environment that supports your growth. In my own transitions, I always entered some sort of program that gave me people to talk with, assignments to work on, and opportunities to build contacts. It’s critical not to do it alone. Find a community—whether through courses, associations, or programs.” – Thuy Le
“I would tell students: you’re not alone. Those feelings of ‘I’m not good enough, I don’t belong here’—they can really hold you back. They can take away from what could be an amazing experience in school or science. I’d remind myself that others feel the same way, and there are people and places you can turn to for support.” – Erika Zocher
Your Values Will Guide You
“Understand what you care about. As you pursue a career, keep those values in mind and ask yourself: does this career align with what I believe in?” – Thuy Le
“It’s so important to remember your why. Applying for jobs can feel tedious and frustrating. Sometimes I try to flip it and say—there’s a reason you pushed through those hard classes, right? Remember what got you excited in the first place. That passion not only helps you push through the application process, but also shows up in your cover letters, interviews, and ultimately in your work.” – Erika Zocher
