Three Steps to Gain Career Clarity
The single most valuable lesson I’ve learned through working with thousands of clients now is that gaining clarity about what matters most to you is the FIRST step to navigating any type of career pivot or career launch.
The way I describe career clarity is: A vision that provides insight to know the job(s) you really want, rather than what you think you want or think you should want. It’s a definitive way to understand and reach your personal goals with a definitive understanding of what to say yes to and say NO to. Instead of blindly applying to jobs because they match your salary requirements or plugging away at the same job you’ve had for years, career clarity will help you see what’s next and best for you.
In today’s blog, I’m going to cover the THREE steps you’ll need to take to find career clarity.
THREE STEPS TO GAIN CAREER CLARITY
Super simple questions, and here they are:
What don’t you want to do?
What do you want to do?
Beyond the title, what matters most to you?
Let’s dive into the details that you should keep in mind as you work through each of these questions.
Step 1: Discover What You DON’T Want to Do
The majority of people who turn to me know what they DON’T want to do. Whether it is from prior work experience or a negative boss, the majority of my clients have a deep understanding of what they DO NOT want in their next job. Which is why it can be a great place to start to gain career clarity.
So, reflect on what you know you don’t want:
Does working 9-5 destroy your motivation? Does data entry make you miserable? Do you feel most effective when you don’t have to work with customers face-to-face?
Knowing the specifics about what you don’t want to do will weed out a lot of clutter on the job hunt. You’ll have a better picture of what a non-negotiable is when it comes to responsibilities.
So many of us are keen to accept jobs based on necessity, location, and pay. Those ARE fantastic reasons to accept a position. But if that comes with lots of things, you know you don’t want to do, then you might want to reconsider.
Step 2: Narrow Down What You DO Want to Do
Reflecting on your list of DON’T wants, flip the script, and ask yourself what exactly you do WANT in this next job.
Do you want to lead a team?
Do you want to work independently from people?
Do you want to be a project manager?
Do you want to cover a larger territory?
Do you want to travel less?
Do you want to work for a small business?
Do you want to be a 1099-independent contractor employee?
Do you want more autonomy?
Do you want to work outside of the traditional 9am-5pm work hours?
Do you want to launch your OWN business?
Pull out a pen and paper, and get SUPER specific here.
This is your best chance to ensure your future happiness by being TOTALLY HONEST with yourself. Even if one of these “dream responsibilities” seemed totally unattainable in the past, write it down now. Your past doesn’t determine your future.
After all, career clarity is all about building toward the future to elevate your career!
Step 3: Beyond the Job Title, Discover What Matters Most to You
By this point, you should have a really good idea of what you do and don’t want to do in your next position. In two quick steps, you’ve already gotten SO close to total clarity.
Now, it’s time to get a little more philosophical by asking yourself “What matters most to me?”
For you maybe it’s being able to spend weekends 100% with your family. Or, you may want to be able to travel even while you’re working.
Create a list of things that matter most to you. If a job doesn’t fulfill these needs (or get you closer to them), it may have to get taken off the table as an option.
Discuss your notes with your family, friends, and tribe to get their insight too. And, if you want a laser-focused group to help you design your dream career, join my membership program. :)
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