If you had to describe your career with one emoji, what would it be? While that could be an overly simplified way to describe your career, all professionals need to take time to evaluate their current career path to make sure they are in the right fit. Life is too short to stay in a job you don’t truly enjoy. But how do you know if you need to make a career transition?
We work with mid-career professionals every day, helping them to discover what brings them fulfillment because we truly care. You don’t have to wait until the new year to determine if you are truly fulfilled and challenged at work. We want to share some tips that can help you get started.
Consider the impact of COVID on your career. When considering if you feel fulfilled in your career or if you need to make a career transition, it’s important to remember that the pandemic affected most industries. It affected processes and the way we worked with clients and co-workers. Did you feel fulfilled in your career before these changes? Will you feel fulfilled as things in your industry move to post-COVID? Has your career path been permanently impacted by the pandemic? If where you want to be in 10 years in your current career path is no longer possible, would you feel happy with the alternative?
Consider why you are in your career. Why did you choose your current career path? Sometimes professionals choose careers because of family influence, a high salary, or a sense of obligation. While these all have some value, if you choose a career based solely on someone else’s sense of fulfillment, that won’t be a good fit long-term. So ask yourself if you are in your career for the right reason or the wrong reason. The best reason for choosing a career is because it aligns with your values. And your values can change over time, which makes it important to assess your career path regularly. If your career doesn’t align with your values, you may need to make a career transition.
Consider if your career uses your strengths. Another factor that impacts career fulfillment is the use of our strengths. How often do you use your strengths in your current career path? Your strengths are those things that come naturally to you. You should also enjoy using those strengths. You may find that mathematics comes to you easily, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to work with mathematical formulas on a regular basis. It is possible to find fulfillment and happiness in what you do at work.
Take some time to journal about the above points and speak with a friend, mentor, or career coach. At Create Your Career Path, we use our trademarked Ideal Career Model to help you frame out and streamline your thinking. Schedule a free consult with us today.
