do informational interviewing

I took someone out to lunch who works in a position in my company I might aspire to. But after talking more with her, I don’t think I do want her job. Still, I’m really glad we talked.

• I don’t really want her job.
• I have an idea of a position in our company that doesn’t currently exist, but might be a good fit for both the company’s needs and my interests and skills.
• I have been reminded to put together a stellar (and current) portfolio, which I will need whether I want to look elsewhere for work or go back to school (and it might even come in handy if I want a more creative position within my current company).

I had to do this for a bunch of school projects. It was fun being on the other side of things and actually interviewing principals.

But I keep coming back to what seems like an unavoidable fact: I may never find the work I love until I stop fishing off the pier, and instead cast a broader net and gather information about what’s out there in the big, wide world.

I don’t want to do it, but I’m willing to do it to find more satisfying work.

I’ve had no idea where I wanted to start with this, despite having all the resources to know-how and tonight I think I found where to begin, with Patricia Kernan, a scientific illustrator, who is apparently located an hour away from my house! :-)