Will applying for a job that's not related to current one look bad?
October 23, 2015 4:08 PM Subscribe
I'm currently in a fellowship in my master's program. The fellowship is pretty specific (as it usually is) and in a field I knew nothing about but wanted to learn more of/also thought could help me serve a wider population in my career. Now coming up on graduation, I want to apply to another fellowship that could lead to a full-time job in my dream organization. I'm afraid because the two fellowships aren't related at all, the employers will wonder why I'm applying.
I understood--in my limited understanding--that if you do a fellowship while in school, this would be your "set in stone" career in the future. Or at least for my other friends, this is how it worked out. They did a fellowship, found a job in said field that fellowship was in.
My fellowship was in an area I knew nothing about (disabilities), but I applied because I wanted to learn more about it, hopefully mentor people in my field about it, and I would most likely come across clients who have disabilities. Also, it helps support my schooling, which was a definite added benefit. My thesis will be related to my fellowship as well, as this is a requirement.
I'm the youngest in my program (read: fresh out of college), so I know what field I want to work in, but not my speciality yet, or like what I part of my field I want to work in *forever*. Doing this fellowship seemed a bit out of left field, but since I don't know exactly what I want as a career, I figured it wouldn't be a bad move to learn more about a subject that does pique my interest.
However, now that I'm going to graduate in the next year and am looking for jobs, I was recommended for a fellowship for my dream organization by one of the supervisors there. I literally can't believe it, and now I'm second guessing myself. Should I even apply?! My fear is that if I list my current fellowship, they will look at it and go "Huh. She was a fellow for a completely different field that is not related to our fellowship. She obviously is all over the place and doesn't know what she wants to do with her career." The current fellowship is nowhere near related to the one I want to apply for (however, I do have the degree that they're looking for).
So, tl;dr: Does it look bad that a fellowship I'm in now is not related to the field of work that the other position is in? I have the degree qualifications, yes, but deep inside I'm afraid that they'll look at my current position and think it's weird or not relatable or that I'm too all over the place.
I understood--in my limited understanding--that if you do a fellowship while in school, this would be your "set in stone" career in the future. Or at least for my other friends, this is how it worked out. They did a fellowship, found a job in said field that fellowship was in.
My fellowship was in an area I knew nothing about (disabilities), but I applied because I wanted to learn more about it, hopefully mentor people in my field about it, and I would most likely come across clients who have disabilities. Also, it helps support my schooling, which was a definite added benefit. My thesis will be related to my fellowship as well, as this is a requirement.
I'm the youngest in my program (read: fresh out of college), so I know what field I want to work in, but not my speciality yet, or like what I part of my field I want to work in *forever*. Doing this fellowship seemed a bit out of left field, but since I don't know exactly what I want as a career, I figured it wouldn't be a bad move to learn more about a subject that does pique my interest.
However, now that I'm going to graduate in the next year and am looking for jobs, I was recommended for a fellowship for my dream organization by one of the supervisors there. I literally can't believe it, and now I'm second guessing myself. Should I even apply?! My fear is that if I list my current fellowship, they will look at it and go "Huh. She was a fellow for a completely different field that is not related to our fellowship. She obviously is all over the place and doesn't know what she wants to do with her career." The current fellowship is nowhere near related to the one I want to apply for (however, I do have the degree that they're looking for).
So, tl;dr: Does it look bad that a fellowship I'm in now is not related to the field of work that the other position is in? I have the degree qualifications, yes, but deep inside I'm afraid that they'll look at my current position and think it's weird or not relatable or that I'm too all over the place.
It's a little hard to say without knowing more about the sort of master's you're in (MPH? Nursing?) and what exactly these fellowships are (they don't sound like fellowships I'm familiar with--I'm in a social science).
But those caveats aside:
Definitely apply! If you have the qualifications and you have a recommendation from someone the organization knows (even better, who works there!) then you should have a solid shot.
Spunweb is absolutely right about spinning a narrative thread through your application materials that shows you to be thoughtful, committed to the cause of the job, of how you've been gaining breadth but want to return to your true love, etc etc. And if you're really worried, make sure you talk with that old supervisor so that they know your situation and can tell the fellowship committee (in a letter or by phone or however the process works) that you're not some sort of flake and are in fact deeply committed to the field the fellowship is in. Or whatever. And yes, a career services place (or even a writing center) can often help you craft that narrative.
Frankly, if you're in your early twenties I don't think anyone will see your career track as being "set in stone" outside of certain professions with very specific licensing or technical training requirements. People hop around between fields all the time.
Good luck!
posted by col_pogo at 4:31 PM on October 23, 2015
But those caveats aside:
Definitely apply! If you have the qualifications and you have a recommendation from someone the organization knows (even better, who works there!) then you should have a solid shot.
Spunweb is absolutely right about spinning a narrative thread through your application materials that shows you to be thoughtful, committed to the cause of the job, of how you've been gaining breadth but want to return to your true love, etc etc. And if you're really worried, make sure you talk with that old supervisor so that they know your situation and can tell the fellowship committee (in a letter or by phone or however the process works) that you're not some sort of flake and are in fact deeply committed to the field the fellowship is in. Or whatever. And yes, a career services place (or even a writing center) can often help you craft that narrative.
Frankly, if you're in your early twenties I don't think anyone will see your career track as being "set in stone" outside of certain professions with very specific licensing or technical training requirements. People hop around between fields all the time.
Good luck!
posted by col_pogo at 4:31 PM on October 23, 2015
Two thoughts:
Absolutely take the time to apply - there is no real downside. Can you talk to the supervisor who recommended you for the fellowship to help you craft your narrative? Why did he/she recommend you - what did they see in your? Test out on them the story of how the past fellowship connects to your interests and abilities which connect to the new fellowship to make sure it makes sense to people hiring.
the first 15 years of my career make perfect sense in hindsight but I certainly had no idea where I was going at the time. A couple of useful questions to help you connect the dots:
- what else in your background hints at your interest in the new fellowship? maybe a paper for a course or volunteer position that is more closely related
- what did you learn from your past fellowship that relates to the new one? For example, one thing I personally learned from an internship working with people with disabilities is that we are all differently abled, each person has their own strengths and weakness, . Working with people with more obvious challenges, made me more creative and flexible and taught me how to adapt my style to each individual. Your version of this will be different but I'm sure you justify having the taken the fellowship because of the ways it made your core skills better in additional to learning that particular population.
posted by metahawk at 5:35 PM on October 23, 2015
Absolutely take the time to apply - there is no real downside. Can you talk to the supervisor who recommended you for the fellowship to help you craft your narrative? Why did he/she recommend you - what did they see in your? Test out on them the story of how the past fellowship connects to your interests and abilities which connect to the new fellowship to make sure it makes sense to people hiring.
the first 15 years of my career make perfect sense in hindsight but I certainly had no idea where I was going at the time. A couple of useful questions to help you connect the dots:
- what else in your background hints at your interest in the new fellowship? maybe a paper for a course or volunteer position that is more closely related
- what did you learn from your past fellowship that relates to the new one? For example, one thing I personally learned from an internship working with people with disabilities is that we are all differently abled, each person has their own strengths and weakness, . Working with people with more obvious challenges, made me more creative and flexible and taught me how to adapt my style to each individual. Your version of this will be different but I'm sure you justify having the taken the fellowship because of the ways it made your core skills better in additional to learning that particular population.
posted by metahawk at 5:35 PM on October 23, 2015
If you don't apply you're definitely not going to get the job. And if you do apply you might possibly get the job.
Which one sounds better to you?
posted by Nerd of the North at 3:44 PM on October 26, 2015
Which one sounds better to you?
posted by Nerd of the North at 3:44 PM on October 26, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
The cover letter models you'll be looking for will probably be more interdisciplinary oriented. Also, if you know anyone who's applied for and gotten a fellowship in the field you're interested in, see if they'll either proof your application materials or let you see theirs.
Depending on the field, your institution's Career Services may be able to help as well.
posted by spunweb at 4:16 PM on October 23, 2015