Beyond the All-in-One Job

I got together with a friend before she relocated to a new state. Over tea, she told me about how burned out she felt from her work and the toll that's taken on her mental and physical health.

She'd been been trying to find a way out—going through the motions of applying to positions that represented a step up on the career ladder.

Her heart wasn't it it, but she felt expectations from everyone around her to line up a solid job that would justify her master's degree.

"You know what I'd really love?" She said to me, leaning in with a wistful smile. "There's a florist down the street from my new apartment. I wish I could work there and arrange flowers all day and talk with the customers."

It was clear from her tone that this seemed like a wild, impossible step for her.

But why?

For where she was right then—healing from burnout, getting her health back on track, and regrouping to make an intentional decision about the next step in her career path—it sounded like a perfect job.

There was a lot at play for her:

• Worrying about living up to others' expectations

• Playing small because she needed a stronger handle on her incredible skill set and experience

• Striving to live up to a definition of success that wasn't aligned with what she truly finds fulfilling

• Feeling unsure about what it would mean to get back on a career path after making a detour for a while

But here's where my wheels got turning: my friend, like so many of us, was thinking of finding a JOB as one thing.

Here's the truth: There are many different types of jobs for many different types of situations—and they are all legitimate choices.

Different job types for different purposes

Our culture has taught us that the All-in-One Job is the ideal version of what work should look like—one position where you fully express your skills and earn the resources you need.

Let's look beyond the All-in-One Job to explore some other, equally valid types of work:

Bridge Job

A soft place to land while you transition from one job, company, or field to another; a position that serves you well in the interim while you regroup for what's next. Ideally, it's something very different from your usual role.

Example: Evie was so stretched thin in a demanding, senior level position that she didn't have the bandwidth to thoughtfully apply for new positions. She gave her notice, exited with grace, and took a part-time Bridge Job in retail while she networked and applied for her next career role.

Foundation Job

A "good enough" position that provides you with a strong base without using all of your time and energy, so that you have space to devote to building a new path or healing from an old one.

Example: Ray has always wanted to publish a novel, but making ends meet as a not-yet-established writer doesn't work with his adult life—including a mortgage and family to support. He has a Foundation Job at a bank, which provides him with stable income and hours and allows him to spend early mornings writing.

Foot-in-the-Door Job

It's not your ideal position, but it gives you a way to enter a company or field in order to gain experience, build relationships, and develop your career path.

Example: Min wants to make a career pivot into marketing. In particular, she's got her sights set on a company that's a social enterprise—a for-profit business that aims to do good in the world. She takes a Foot-in-the-Door Job on the customer service team to break into the field. She networks internally and finds a mentor to help her move into the marketing department.

Lily Pad Job

Takes you one hop closer to the next lily pad. It’s not the ultimate destination but an opportunity to build skills and prepare for the next leap.

Example: Farah's ultimate career goal is to be the Executive Director of a nonprofit. She has a lot of experience on the program and operations sides of things, but wants to round out her knowledge of development. She takes a Lily Pad Job that is fully focused on fundraising in order to build her skills and be a more qualified candidate when the right role comes along.

Sprout Job

A side project, business, or career pivot that you're piloting or nurturing in hopes that it will grow into something more.

Example: Jason is a software developer, but on the side he makes sculptures out of reclaimed metal. He started selling them at local craft fairs, and finds that he likes talking with customers and coming up with new designs. He's exploring selling his work in local art shops and online. Maybe it will turn into something bigger, or maybe it'll stay a fun side gig.

Parallel Jobs

Holding more than one job at time, where each position aligns with your mission and values.

Example: Sandra works part-time as a grant writer for a historic house. She also does project-based program planning as a consultant for cultural organizations, and she teaches a college course at a local university. She likes getting to wear different hats—as a writer, program planner, and teacher—and she likes being in control of her own schedule.

There is more than one way to move through your career

My friend was searching for an All-in-One Job because, like many of us, she'd been taught that it was the "right" way to build her career.

But there are other equally valid choices available—working for a florist could be a Bridge Job; she could cultivate a Sprout Job that winds up blossoming into something more; she could find a good enough Foundation Job to give her stability while she explores other interests; or maybe seek out a Foot-in-the-Door Job to start off on a new path.

The point is: there's not just one right way to move through your career. This is your life and you get to forge your own unique path—and that includes taking positions that suit your needs and your definition of success.

I hope that seeing these choices opens up new possibilities for you to navigate your career with purpose and adaptability.