If you are changing careers, this could be an important quality to consider. Do you require a quiet space away from other people to work? If you have seen some of the modern workplace layouts, there may be tables of employees lined up working side by side. Can you work in an environment like this? Will concentration be interrupted by the distractions of other people? Take a bit of time to think about previous work experiences.
When I worked at the front desk at a public library, there were times when it was loud, incredibly active because of children’s programming, and even difficult to concentrate because the customer in front of me just kept chatting. Sometimes, I would close my eyes and force myself to get in order even with a customer in front of me. I’m a step-by-step kind of person, and I had to find a way to block out these distractions. When I cataloged books, I needed quiet in my space so I could focus.
When I write, I need some semblance of “quiet.” What does that look like? I can write sitting at a table outside with activity going on around me as long as I am removed from having to respond to other people. I can have the television going or music playing, but I sometimes have difficulty writing if there people are too close by talking especially when they don’t know how to moderate their volume. When I need to concentrate on a task, I need to be in a space where people aren’t talking to me or are too close to me. Sometimes companies don’t take this into account, but sometimes they do.
Look for a company and/or career that plays to your strengths in this area. Do you need a space to concentrate? Look for a place that offers a cubicle at the minimum. I worked at a place that had “office cubicles,” and this meant that we had a type of office with a locking door and even windows structured around the exterior walls of the department. There was one problem. The cubicle walls didn’t go all the way to the ceiling so sound easily carried over the walls. With a rather loud, chatty coworker close by, I often had to keep a fan on for white noise and/or keep a pair of headphones within reach. Understand that I didn’t even always have sound playing through the headphones. It was just to block out the coworker’s voice!
When I was younger, this didn’t phase me, but now, I would add this to the list of my questions for a potential employer during an interview. The older I get, the more space I need away from other employees. This tells me that I also need to limit teamwork-style jobs unless each person is given their work to do, and the team only meets occasionally for progress reports.
As you do a self-evaluation for a career change, you will find many things are related. My need for a quiet place to concentrate means I don’t always work well in teams. It isn’t because I don’t like working with others. Knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are doesn’t just benefit you. It’s also helpful for a company looking at hiring you. If you know that you are a solitary kind of worker, then an employer looking for a team leader needs to know that you might not fit that position. There is nothing wrong with that, and I’ve left interviews feeling better about my honesty even if I didn’t get the job. If you are one of those people who needs some peace and quiet to be your most productive, be certain you are looking for a job in which that will be accommodated.
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Inspirational Verse for the Day:
Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. (Psalm 37:7, CSB)
All Things Subject to Change 