Do you have a list of possible career options that you think you might enjoy and/or succeed at?
If so, how do you pair that list down to a manageable number (ideally no more than 3) for further research?
It’s surprisingly simple – ask yourself the following three key questions:
- Does this job align with my personal strengths?
Having a job that aligns with your natural talents and abilities will make your working life feel a lot more effortless and will support career progression
- Do I have a natural interest in this profession?
A spark of interest is what keeps you going when times are tough. Being naturally aligned with the bigger picture and end game will help you navigate your way through the sea of trouble shooting when you’re in the throws of managing the day-to-day detail of the workload
- If I need additional training to get into this profession, do I have the necessary resource(s) to obtain it or can I find these resources?
Whilst doing stuff that we enjoy on a daily basis (or at least tolerate well) is important, there does have to be some practical grounding. If you’re in your mid-to-late thirties and your dream of becoming an international track star has not yet come to fruition – the chances are it’s a bit late now!
But in all seriousness there are constraints put upon all of us due to our own unique situations. This is not to put anyone off from achieving his or her dream job, but a dose of realism is required. For example, if your dream is to start a business or return to graduate school for an additional qualification, you’ll need a financing strategy and the time to invest to make it happen
If your answer is not ‘yes’ to questions 1 and 2, and if relevant, also yes to question 3, then drop that option and focus your attention to other possibilities that yield a positive response to all of the above. Future success in a profession will be all the more easier if you can answer ‘yes’ to the above!
Once you’ve paired down a list of possible career options to only a handful (ideally ≤3), you’ll be in a perfect place to go ahead and research these options fully. This will be done by exploring all aspects of the job and crucially networking in that chosen industry, to obtain a clearer picture of working conditions in that sector. But more on this in future posts!
Until next time stay focused and continue being a career badass!
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