Written by McKenzie Poynter.
As my graduation date quickly approaches and the reality of joining the Instructional Design/Learning Experience Design (ID/LXD) workforce sets in, I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to work for The Learning Agency. Because of my work with The Learning Agency, I have had the privilege of “wearing multiple hats,” meaning that I have worked on a variety of assignments differing in scope, product, goal, role, content, etc. I have been tasked with assessing communication platforms based on client needs, building an eLearning course from the ground up, and a few other things in-between.
I have learned multiple lessons throughout my graduate coursework and internship with The Learning Agency, but the most valuable lesson I have learned, and thus the best piece of advice that I have to offer, is to take advantage of every opportunity to try new things. Try the thing that scares you, try the thing you think you won’t enjoy, try the thing you know you will enjoy, and try the thing you didn’t even know existed. Try on all of the “hats,” because they will all surprise you in some form or fashion.
When you take the chance to try new things, you quickly discover what you like, and, more importantly, what you don’t like. This discovery process is imperative for students, especially as we approach graduation and begin applying for jobs. If we do not take the time to explore our likes and dislikes, we might find ourselves in a position that does not bring us joy or working for a company that does not align with our values.
When you come across something you dislike, I encourage you to sit with that feeling and truly explore what it is that you don’t like. Is it the content? Is it the independence (or lack thereof)? Is it the working relationship? Is it the company or organization itself? To give you a better idea of what I mean to truly figure out the root causes of your preferences, the sections below outline a few of the most significant “likes” and “dislikes” I discovered about myself as I tried new things.
Likes
- I much prefer working in the development, implementation, and evaluation stages of ADDIE.
- Using an iterative and agile design approach is a must for me.
- I prefer creating learning experiences for learners ages 16+.
- I like working 1-on-1 with clients.
- I thrive on due dates.
Dislikes
- The analysis and design stages of ADDIE are my least favorite.
- I enjoy collaboration, but, depending on the situation, it can slow things down and become a point of frustration.
- Graphic design is the bane of my existence. I struggle with it and prefer to use templates to avoid wasting time.
As a result of trying on so many “hats,” I have learned that I should apply for jobs that focus on course development within secondary education, higher education, or corporate spaces. In fact, I enjoyed creating orientation courses much more than I thought I would. I could definitely see myself working as an ID within the Human Resources or Education department of a corporate company, driving the onboarding process for new employees or helping existing employees learn about new products. On the flip side, I also learned that I should not apply for jobs that focus on research/analysis; I much prefer when the client or designer can act as the subject matter expert (SME).
Final Reflection: This blogpost would not be complete without connecting the valuable lesson (try new things to discover your preferences) back to the “hat” metaphor. So, please try on as many hats as you can before you make a decision. 👒🎩🤠🎓⛑️
- Wear each hat around the store for a bit; Which one feels like it was made just for you?
- Inspect each hat; Do you like the materials and structure?
- Check yourself out in the mirror; Does it make you happy? What do you already have in your closet that would go well with the hat?
- Look at the price tag; Does the cost match the worth of the hat?
I hope you have the chance to explore a number of opportunities within your chosen field so that you can find the hat that fits you best!
