New Job

Why this story is important

Landing a new job often marks a change in direction—new responsibilities, environments, relationships, or roles. Documenting it helps you see it as a pivot point in your life story, not just a career move. When you look back years later, you can compare — how different is your perspective now? What surprised you later that you didn’t expect when you started? The story becomes a benchmark for measuring growth or changes in priorities.

Your descendants, mentees, or readers might be curious how you navigated your path. Your story of landing a new role, with struggles, successes, and lessons, becomes a resource and encouragement for others. By writing your own job-transition story, you weave that experience into your work life narrative, making it part of the fabric of your identity and path.

Preparation checklist

• Gather your thoughts and materials. Review your journals and notes that might help you remember details.
• Browse your photo albums to stimulate memories and choose the photos you might want to use in the story.
• Decide who you’ll share the finished story with. Just yourself? Family? Friends? Public post? Thinking about your audience in advance will help guide what memories and details to include and which ones to leave out.

How to use the Times of My Life App to capture your story:

*The Virtual Biographer has instant access to similar stories written and shared by millions of other people. It knows what questions to ask and in what order. It can help you relive events, thoughts and feelings. It can help illuminate the essence of your experience and then craft a story that is uniquely yours. If a question doesn’t seem relevant to your experience, just skip it. Answer at least five questions. Tap “Next” and tap “Additional Details” to speak or type from memory.

Add media, save and publish as a printed piece, audiocast, and/or video

Insert photos and video clips wherever you want them to appear in the story narrative. Add voice narration and background music if you want to create an audiocast or video, in addition to a printed piece.

Share and revise as desired

After the story is written by you or your virtual biographer, you can “share” it through he app with friends and loved ones. Their feedback can provide valuable perspective and help you improve your story. After you get their feedback you can go back and edit the story as desired — or ask the Virtual Biographer to rewrite it with the feedback!

Related Stories

• Career Journey
• Early Adult Career
• Midlife Career
• Finding Success
• Startup Story

Write the Story Yourself: Suggested Outline

1. Title & Opening Hook

• Choose a title that highlights the transition — e.g. “Stepping Into the Unknown,” “A New Chapter Begins,” “The Offer That Changed Things”.
• Start with a moment: the instant you received the offer, or your first day, or your reaction when you realized the change was happening.
• A sentence or two about why this job mattered to you.

2. Context / Before the Change

• What was your situation before the new job? (Your previous job, challenges, disappointments, aspirations.)
• Why were you looking (or open) for change? (Growth, better fit, new direction, need for balance, etc.)
• Who encouraged you, influenced you, or helped you in the job search?
• Key decisions you made (applying, interviews, accepting risk).

3. The Search & Decision Process

• Describe the steps: applying, interviews, rejections, offers.
• Memorable moments in the process (a great interviewer, a tough question, a surprise turn).
• How you felt in the waiting times, setbacks, or anticipation.
• What made you decide (or accept) this particular job — pros, cons, gut feelings.

4. First Day / Initial Transition

• What went through your mind on the first day (or week)?
• How was the onboarding or orientation?
• New responsibilities, work environment, colleagues.
• What surprised you — small or big things you didn’t anticipate.

5. Challenges & Wins in the Early Days

• What obstacles did you face (adjusting, learning, relationships, expectations)?
• What successes or early wins gave you confidence?
• How did you adapt, learn, or grow in that early phase?

6. Meaning & Impact

• Why does this job matter to you in your life story?
• What does it allow you to do (use gifts, serve others, grow, experiment)?
• How does it align (or challenge) your values, purpose, or long-term goals?
• How is it reshaping you (skills, confidence, identity, habits)?

7. Looking Ahead & Reflection

• How do you hope to grow in this job (skills, relationships, contributions)?
• What fears, hopes, or uncertainties do you carry forward?
• If you could speak to your “you” at the moment of decision, what would you say?
• A closing reflection: how this new job fits into your broader life narrative.

Tips & Suggestions for Making the Story Rich

• Use specific, concrete details (the office space, your commute, first lunch, how your workspace looked).
• Include emotional honesty — nerves, doubts, excitement, pressure.
• Show more than tell: rather than “I was excited,” describe what you noticed, how your body felt, what thoughts raced.
• Don’t skip the struggles — early stumbles, misunderstandings, learning curves make the story authentic.
• If possible, attach photos (of your new workplace, coworkers, your desk) or related media (e.g. screenshots, memos) in the app to bring the narrative alive.

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