Waiting for Your Ideal Job

When searching through the Notes app on my iPhone, I came across a note that I had written in 2018.

The title was “Ideal Job Role” and listed out, like a job description, what I would love to be doing for a future job.

When I noticed the date, I was transported to a time and place where discontentment and confusion ruled my working life.

Out of college for 5 years at that point, I had worked in 4 different places and felt lost. I did not know where I could add value, if I even could add value, and where God wanted me to be.

A few years, and a few job roles later, I found myself in a job that was nearly identical to that “Ideal Job Role.” In fact, if I were to write out my current job description, I could just copy and paste that note from 4 years ago.

I have so much empathy for the Tory from back then; the one who wrote that note and wanted more out of her career. The one who was asking questions like how to honor God in the workplace, how to fight for what I believe I’m worth and still honor others… so here is what I would tell her, and here is what I would tell any young woman early in her career:

1. Trust God. Easier said than done, but when you abide, He provides. 

Stay close to God and His Word, and when the time comes for Him to lead you elsewhere, or into a new unknown, you’ll recognize His voice, because you’ve spent time in His presence. There will be failures. This is not a maybe. There WILL BE. You will fail and let people down, but your hope lies in Jesus. Trust the Holy Spirit at work in you. (John 10:14)

2. Stay the course and put in the work. 

All around you will be opportunities to fall into the pit of comparison. Other people have “cooler” jobs, they make more money, they travel more places, they’re around more influential people. But stay the course. Stay in your lane. 

You are developing your own set of unique skills and gathering up experience. Keep going, and keep saying yes to things that push you out of your comfort zone. I was not ready for the “ideal job role” in 2018. I needed the shaping, molding, and refining of every year that came before this. (Ephesians 2:10)

3. Be honest with God. 

You feel confused, and that’s ok. Life is not a play with each act already written. When you feel confused, talk to your Heavenly Father about it. (1 Peter 5:7)

4. Find awesome women to watch and emulate. 

Get in their orbits and see them at work. You don’t need a formal mentorship to watch someone. People will show their character. Watch women you admire in easy and hard situations and take note! Soak up everything. (Philippians 4:8)

5. When you find yourself in the inevitable season of discontentment, ask God for help. 

Ask God to change your heart, to soften your heart, if you are in a season where God is not changing things on your timeline. (Ezekial 36:26)

6. God wants your heart, not your job title. 

You can make an impact where you are. Don’t think for a moment that some other job will mean you can finally do the work God is asking you to do. David was a shepherd for a long time before he was a king. Your job title means nothing to your mission to make Jesus famous. (Matthew 6:33)

7. Be excellent. 

People see you. Your character goes before you. You will one day land an amazing job, the ideal role if you will, because someone saw your character before they saw your work. The temptation to “call it in,” will be ever-present, but choose excellence instead. (Colossians 3:23)