The First Years of Corporate Work

When I first started at Microsoft, I was deliberate in covering my experience in religious life.

I was worried I would lose my job if people found out I was a former nun.

I feared religion was too hot of a topic to discuss with others safely. Plus, if they knew I was a nun, I did not want my teammates to feel uncomfortable or act differently.

A lot of growth happens in a career.

I have learned to embrace my experience as a nun. I leverage my strengths of being an empathic listener and a servant leader, qualities that matured during my religious life.

Switch Careers with This Mindset

I do not easily give up or quit.

Some people call me stubborn, but it is determination.

I applied 44 times to one company. Forty-three of them were rejections. One of them was a yes, an opportunity.

I remember something my Dad taught me about work.

My Dad was big on action and less on talk or BS. He said, "You get your foot in the door with the job offer. You keep your job by what you."

The lesson here is your actions and results speak the value of your talent.

When switching your career, remember to be all in and relentless about the process.

Most often, a career change does not happen overnight. You have to be committed to the long haul of growth and change.

Do not give in or give up too early, and do not quit on yourself.

In part four, the final part of this essay, I will talk about the resiliency to keep going throughout your career.