I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work, Fully Revised and Updated

by Julie Jansen

The quintessential guide to kick-starting your career, fully revised and updated for the ever-changing modern job market
 
Despite a recovering economy, many Americans are still losing their jobs, while many who do have jobs are overworked, maxed out, and miserable. In this fully revised and updated edition of I Don’t Know What I Want, But I Know It’s Not This, career coach Julie Jansen shows how anyone—whether you’re unhappy with your job, or without one—can implement a real and satisfying transformation.
 
Changing careers, conducting a job search, or starting a business is more complicated than ever before. Jansen has updated her classic guide to address the unique challenges of today’s job market, from the ever-more important world of social media to new ways of funding your own endeavors online. Filled with quizzes, personality assessments, and real-life examples, this guide helps you identify the type of work you’re best suited for and provides the know-how—and the inspiration—for transforming an uncertain time into an opportunity for meaningful change.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Business, Psychology, Personal Development, Money

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2003

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Reviews

[k.wing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I read about 3/4 of this book, as two of the chapters were not applicable to my situation.

I think IDKWIWBIKINT (not as easy to abbreviate as, say, LoTR) is a great book for taking a step back and really evaluating what you value, enjoy, what interests you, and what you want out of the career part of your life.

The first part of the book consists of a series of personality, interest, and value tests. I think these are actually really important, so I was all about them. It turns out that a few things have changed since I took some of these kinds of tests in high school, so I wouldn't skip over those. The second part of the book is a few chapters specifically designed to your current situation. I skipped two chapters because I do not want to own my business right now, and I definitely do not have one toe in the retirement pool. The final section of the book includes 10 keys to success (very good), some basic resume and interview know-how, and then finally some resources to find more information. The resources section is quite extensive, so you can get more information with your own volition.

I'm not sure why this book isn't rated higher - it's exactly what it says it is, written by an author who has changed careers a number of times. It was helpful for me.

[Mad Hapa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I flipped through a lot of career advice books at Powell's, this seemed to be the least-terrible one. It was disappointing, but, maybe my expectations were too high.

For example, the book has several assessments. You look at a list of activities and write down the things you like/don't like doing. There's a similar exercise where you think about that jobs you've had and the type of work you liked/hated. What's missing is some kind of directory or chart or something that says hey, you like being outdoors and don't like meetings, you should be a garbage man! Or something...

TL;DR - if you still don't know what you want to be when you grow up, this book doesn't have answers, but it has exercises that might help you figure it out.

From what I can tell, my dream job is being retired.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains many exercises that stimulate deep introspection. A major theme of the book is to know your preferences, values, and parameters before looking for career opportunities. The back of the book contains many helpful books and websites, organized by the chapter they correspond to in the book.

The author is a career coach who has changed careers five times.

Notes
Where's the Meaning?
10 types of meaning
• Rewards and challenges
• Interesting field or industry
• Expressing ideals and values
• Contributing/making a difference
• Solving problems
• Changing your lifestyle
• Feeling passionate
• Supporting a cause
• Innovating/creating
• Learning

Don't assume you'll need to take a pay cut if you switch to a nonprofit. If you do, you can make up the difference by working on the side. Don't assume you'll need to take a pay cut if you switch careers. If you "sell" yourself well to potential employees or clients, you can earn the same or more.

Passion can be content-based (activities such as gol, fishing, computers, cooking) or context-based (themes such as improvement, leadership, entrepreneurship, competition).

Yearning to Be on Your Own
90% of people interviewed for book who yearned to be self-employed ranked need to find meaning higher than desire for more money. They felt they could find meaning more easily through their own business than someone else's.

The Eleven Keys to Success
Optimistic people are 19% more likely than non-optimists to live another 30 years.

Write your own eulogy in 2 paragraphs, to better know yourself and your goals.

Job Search - the Nuts and Bolts
Search and contingency firms can usually only place you in same position and industry you are now, so they don't help with career changes.

Resources
Books
• Life's a B**** and Then You Change Careers: 9 Steps to Get You Out of Your Funk and On to Your Future, by Andrea Kay
• Escape from Corporate America: A Practical Guide to Creating the Career of Your Dreams, by Pamela Skillings.
• You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career, by Katharine Brooks
• Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve! by Ford R. Myers
• One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success, by Marci Alboher

• StrengthsFinder 2.0, by Tom Rath
• Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type, by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron-Tieger
• Career Match: Connecting Who You Are with What You'll Love to Do, by Shoya Zichy, Ann Bidou
• Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love, by Jonathan Fields
• Change Your Career: Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector, by Laura Gassner Otting

• Test-Drive Your Dream Job: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Creating the Work You Love, by Brian Kurth
• How'd You Score That Gig?: A Guide to the Coolest Jobs-and How to Get Them, by Alexandra Levit
• Busting Loose from the Business Game: Mind-Blowing Strategies for Recreating Yourself, Your Team, Your Customers, Your Business, and Everything in Between, by Robert Scheinfeld
• Carve Your Own Road: Do What You Love and Live the Life You Envision, by Jennifer Remling, Joe Remling
• The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success, by Nicholas Lore
• What Color Is Your Parachute?, by Richard N. Bolles

Websites
http://www.careerperfect.com/
https://www.careerplanner.com/
http://ericae.net/

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my goals for this year is to find ways to improve my job situation/satisfaction. Which might mean finding a completely new career. So I checked out a bunch of books from the library to explore some other options. This is one of those "What Color Is Your Parachute" type books, where you're asked to look at your interests, skills, and what you want out of work/life/worklife to help you make a good career match. There are a lot of quizzes/tests/questions to ponder, so if you like to journal and enjoy the process of self-discovery this would be a good choice for you. I think it does a wonderful job encouraging readers to do some serious navel-gazing - "Know thyself." It's too easy to become focused on making money and lose sight of what's important to you. Surprisingly, a LOT of people seem to want to have meaningful work - I say "surprisingly" because it seems to me like there aren't a lot of jobs that provide that. Maybe that's why job satisfaction is so low, or why so many people would rather work for themselves!

After a lot of journalling (I took the first few chapters pretty seriously and sat down for a few hours to examine myself and my career goals), I was tired of that particular process and ready to move on to something else - like directions I could take and actual careers I could explore. So I skimmed the rest, was a bit put off by some of the terms they came up with to describe various states of being (I think "disatisfied and afraid" or something like that was used over and over to describe one type of job-seeker), and I decided to be finished with it early. Definitely useful in jump-starting your thought process about career changes - especially if you feel at all stuck about what to do next.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

I laugh when I hear U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. Because I still haven’t figured out what I’m looking for, so I’m not sure whether I’ve found it already or not. This book takes the tact that you need to answer both of those questions in the correct order – what is it you want with a career, and how do you get there. I appreciated the broad brush used here. The author delves into a number of personality tests and includes many surveys and thought questions to help answer that first question. And she doesn’t narrow down the possible answers to just a new full-time career. The author talks about going part time, volunteering, owning your own business, and retiring. She covers all bases. The final chapter is typical of a book about job hunting. I found this was a different perspective than many books that focus on either “what should I do with my life” or “how do I start a business, retire, get a new job,…”. But that was also a weakness. There was quite a lot covered, so there didn’t seem to be as much depth as other similar books. Overall, I found it a reasonable overview of the topics discussed, with one or two new-to-me things to think about (in my case, about purchases of existing businesses). The title is golden.

I listened to this audiobook, mostly while driving or walking as is my habit. This contained a number of surveys, quizzes, and the like which required stopping the playback and writing down well-thought-thru answers. These interactions were key to getting something out of the book. If you want to play along, you should consider a paper copy of the book.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting self-assessment tools, but mainly geared toward older people who have been in a corporate environment who want to get out. Not much help to someone not in this niche.

[Holly Keimig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very helpful during my job search. It helped me figure out what kinds of jobs I would thrive in and what made me unhappy with my current positions. There are lots of anecdotes of other that have been in the same position I was in, so that was comforting. The self-assessments were easy to take and score and led to some insights into my career. If you are starting your job search, very upset in the middle of it, about to give up on it, or just mildly curious as to what you want to do with the rest of your life, I highly recommend picking this book up. It does contain sections on retirement jobs and entrepreneurship as well. I may need to buy a copy (I read a copy from the library) to have as reference for my next job search.

[Alana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really identified with the sentiment in the title of this book, but the book itself ended up being less helpful than most of the other career development books I've been working through. Maybe if I had started with this one, I would have like it better. But the self-reflection exercises that this book describes are described better and more thoroughly in other books. I did gain a few insights though so it was worth checking out from the library.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful tool for introspection. The title is right on ... I read it in my mid-thirties and realized that I really DID know what I wanted after all. Now I'm pursuing the right path for me.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a helpful resource about jobs and job satisfaction. The resource guide at the end was the most useful, and the assessments in each chapter could be useful. But I thought it still had too many instances of "real" people and not enough meat and potatoes.

[Beth M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim and wasn't really aware of what I was getting into. The book itself was fine, but this is more of a series of assessments to help you narrow down your desires in searching for a job, and less an actual book that informs you on what you should be thinking about or focusing on to get yourself there. Not all of the information in here is necessarily realistic, either. However, it does cover a wide array of situations that the reader might find themselves in, be it starting out with a new industry, on the verge of retirement, or wanting to start your own business.

It would probably be better to go with the physical book over an audiobook, and shouldn't be used as a standalone means to figure out what you might want to do if you're looking for a new direction in your career life.

[Taldragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A career coach examines the rampant problem of workplace dissatisfaction and, with the help of a variety of career assessment quizzes and personality exercises, presents a step-by-step program to help readers find the right job and implement a positive career change.

DNF, because i wasn't in the right place to do the assessments and introspection needed to get the most out of this guide.

however it's a useful book/set of tools that hopefully i will return to in the future.

[Arun Narayanaswamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half of the book focuses well on demystifying what you want in a career. The stories are impactful and very well articulated. The book overall is very well structured and focuses not just on actions but also on the deeper emotions associated with a job.
The book however loses it plot when it goes into how to find a new job , resume making etc. can surely be refined to focus on what the title says!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been on my to-read list for years because of the catchy title, but unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. The main theme and the self- assessments all point a reader to discovering some potential new career, but it is oversimplified. It's probably a good book for some who are looking for a major overhaul.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed this since it was in the Libby new year book highlights. Didnt expect much given how dated it is and how quickly the job market changes. If you’re unsure of your next career move, i think the assessments in this book are the most useful. At a minimum, you’ll learn how to understand your own core values and line them up against anything you seek.

[Thita · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it is fun to read, I feel it is too generic. Well, I know it's a book, not a personal career coach...

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about the book was the title.
Other stuff is fine but maybe better for someone who has no clue where to start vs me who has already started most of the basics (value alignment etc)

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Checked out the 2016 edition, obviously some glaring holes regarding the post-pandemic workplace (especially remote work and work/life balance conversation), but there were some useful assessments throughout the book. I found some of the questionnaires regarding how to define your "meaning" if you're in search of a more meaningful job helpful, as well as the bits about freelancing/entrepreneurial work. A quick read with some helpful tidbits, but severely in need of an updated edition.

[Domi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Na to, že to není úplně nejnovější kniha z nejnovějších, je teda hodně dobrá. Dokonce si vysloužila místečko v mé knihovně.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book while looking in the bookstore for own copy of Do What You Are. While I wasn't looking for this book, the title spoke to me. It encapsulated what I was feeling at the time, the reason why I was looking for Do What You Are. The cubicle farm drawing on the front cover encapsulated the sentiment even more.

I was not disappointed. While Jansen does not use personality type in the way that the authors of Do What You Are Do, I appreciated her focus on forming a career action plan. The book is divided into three parts: Part 1 focuses on where the reader is now (Point A), Part 2 presents the reader with a series of self-assessments to determine where he or she really wants to go (Point B), and Part 3 provides a series of tools for building a bridge between Point A and Point B. Not every tool is fit for every person, but there is something here for everyone at any stage of life, from college graduation all the way to retirement.

It was the focus on the action plan that I liked most about this book. Most career books have self-assessments of some kind, and I used the ones from this book in conjunction with others to begin creating my personalized career action plan. If certain results from multiple testing sources overlapped, saying essentially the same thing, then that is part of a core standard that I should be using to guide me along my path. And the tools provided in this book helped me to build that path.

Perhaps not very far distant in my appreciation ranking is the listing of resources (books and otherwise) that Jansen provides at the end. Other comments aside, that alone makes this book a keeper.

While I did employ resources in addition to this book in creating my own path, this book was an essential part of that process for me. It helped me to solidify some earlier thoughts I had about starting my own business (and it was so effective at doing so that I determined the next book I would read would be about entrepreneurship). It helped me to understand more of my own power to create my own path to success. And it gave me tools and inspiration to do so.

I recommend this book to anyone seeking any sort of change in his or her career status, and I highly recommend using this book in conjunction with others to formulate a personalized career plan. As the author herself says near the end of the book, "It is time to make yourself happy in your work. Start your journey today."

[Barry Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little book, packed with useful guidelines and questionnaires, including a large number of self-assessment tests. Results provide perspective on values, attitudes, change readiness, personality, interests and favorite skills. The book ends with a chapter expounding on the ten keys to success. Jansen thinks the three most important keys are optimism, perseverance and curiosity. There is fairly solid job search advice, along with a very robust reference section tied to each of the chapters. A good way to use this would be to identify your theme and focus on that particular chapter.

[Delta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. I just picked it up from my local library this morning and I'm already more than half-way through all the exercises. I'm thinking really seriously about my life and career, and this book asks all the most pertinent questions. It's rich, deep work. Even if you DO know what you want, which is me--I think I pretty much know what I want--Julie's questions and exercises still give you new perspectives. Let yourself go and brainstorm what your life could be, and you are less likely to land something that doesn't fit, even in poor economic times.

[Jamee Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the self-assessments in this book as they helped me determine the values and attitudes that are important to me in a career. Plus, Jansen provides some realistic suggestions on how to improve specific skills useful to exploring career opportunities in your prospective field such as networking, creating action plans, volunteering, and updating resumes and cover letters. The Resources section in the book is quite useful for further reading and research. Overall, I recommend Jansen's book to anyone ready to explore a more satisfying career.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. A pro is that it touches in a lot of different stages that you might find yourself in, the con is that just because one area might apply to me, it doesn’t mean another does—this lead to be being in areas of the book that were boring to me, maybe a personal problem?

Perhaps petty but another annoying aspect was almost anytime she mentioned a potential new boss or networker, she referred to them as “he”, which just felt very odd, not a reason to avoid the book, but come on!

I enjoyed the self reflection aspects and overall felt it helpful, but a little lacking of depth.

[Kathleen Rainwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feeling restless at work, but not sure what to do about it? This book profiles six work situations which may be driving your desire for change. Each situation is fully described and includes self assessments, action plans, quizzes and personality exercises to help you identify the type of work for which you’re best suited,

[Dixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a fairly good job of helping you identify & assess your values, interests, skills, personality trait & attitudes. Along with the current work situation self-assessment you take, you are armed with effective tools & knowledge to help you plan your career & not just your job search. The job search is only a component of the larger picture: your career.

[Bill Braine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical way to structure your thinking and actions about work. I've used it twice to help manage transitions — having first found it by googling "I don't know what I want to do for work but I know it's not this." I would thus also commend Ms. Jansen on top-notch SEO skills and on-the-tin titling.

[Mits · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to begin with, especially as you look at yourself and work through the exercises provided in the book. Hopefully by the time I complete the exercises in the book I will be able to figure out a vocation that truly inspires and interest's me.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writing and solid advice for every step of finding a job, a large portion being workbook-like assessments to help you know what to look for before you start hunting. Includes up-to-date resources in the end material that'll serve you well.

[Ariadna73 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this is just another self-help book and I am not in the mood for such kind of reading. I was expecting something else; but what really drove me crazy was the proliferation of questionnaires and written exercises that I couldn't find valuable enough.