The Amorphous Blob: How to Create Your Own Shape in Your Early Career

Each of us is an amalgamation of positive and negative traits from those around us throughout our lives. Whether it is something you want to replicate or avoid, the influence that others have on our formation is undeniable. This holds true in our early career as people transition from the life of a student into the life of a professional.

This presentation will discuss this transition through the lens of a government employee working for the National Weather Service who went from entry-level employee to a management role in five years, although many of the lessons will be applicable across sectors. Some topics will include working with different leadership styles, developing your own leadership style, building your network, and setting personal and professional goals, all while balancing learning how to survive and thrive in a new environment. Resilience is built through each challenge we face. Even in the face of adversity, we will discuss building tools and skills to learn and grow from unique positive and negative career experiences.

Enter: the amorphous blob. Rather than focusing your professional development to mirror the shape of another person whose position you find interesting, find your own balance of interests, even if they are not what you find to be a “typical” skill set that fits the next rung on your career ladder. By embracing your own individuality, you can complete the cycle by serving as inspiration for positive traits that others can emulate in their career.