Are you or someone you know considering a career change? While the reasons are as numerous and unique as we are, I’ve seen patterns developing in my readings and in my clients for discovering what might be our next line of work,.
In really broad strokes, we need to get very clear on who we are at this stage of our career, and what our vision is for success. Without these as our guidelines, our decisions are harder to make and our direction can change with the slight shift in the wind. We get all sorts of suggestions from well-meaning friends and family about we should be doing this or why don’t we try that or you’d be great at this. Once we are more sure of our identity and what it is we want, we can navigate those suggestions and more importantly gain some Meaningful Momentum in our careers.
Getting clear on who we and what success means to us also informs the logistics of the job search, including how to frame up your resume, what jobs and companies to look for or what sort of business you want to build.
So how can we go about getting clarity on these two aspects? The answers are already in us, but can often be hard to see. It’s like trying to read the label when we’re inside the jar. This is where a coach’s collaboration is so valuable, but granted, I’m a bit biased on coaching benefits!
One of the methods I use with my own clients and that I used in my own journey is to go through exercises. For this article, ‘exercises’ can be anything from journal prompts to guided meditations to reflection frameworks to assessments.
Out of the dozens I’ve come across in my research, here are the ones I see as being most effective in providing clarity and momentum:
Clifton Strengths
When you want a time-tested and science-backed look at your top strengths, Clifton’s assessment is the way to go. I first did the assessment about 15 years ago and the findings have held up through any and all growth I’ve had since then. There is a fee, but I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t think it was worth it. If you’d like to learn more about the role strengths play in a successful career change, check out my take on strengths.
VIA Character
VIA stands for “Values In Action” which is how I use this assessment. It’s titled “strengths” but the results describe values to me. For instance, my top results from this assessment are: Curiosity, Gratitude, Zest, Kindness, Love. The Strengths from Clifton are more about the type of work or the way we work which comes naturally to us. The VIA assessment is free. Want to explore more about how important values are to achieving sustainable success? Check out my cornerstone article.
Ikigai
There are whole books and courses about this wonderful Japanese approach, so this tiny paragraph only touches the tip of the iceberg. Ikigai is all about finding the intersection of what we love to do, what we do that’s valuable, what the world needs and what we are good at. I’ve created a worksheet which has more information and room to explore your ikigai.
100 Jobs
When you feel like exploring different types of work, the 100 Jobs exercise helps us discover ones we may not necessarily have on our short list already. This exercise is from Timothy Butler’s book “Getting Unstuck” so check that one out if you’d like similar exercises or to get more information than what my worksheet has. If you’d like to learn more about this book, here’s my takeway for it.
Reviews
Quite a few career change books recommend we review our career, and even our life, for memorable projects, roles, and work environments. There are many variations on this theme depending on the author’s approach and background, but they all essentially center on mining our past to find our future. As you review your career, compile a list of the highlights, especially the times you felt completely engaged and in the moment. Look for projects and personal interactions which felt effortless and even gave you energy, as opposed to sapping your energy. Also review the places you’ve worked and volunteered, listing those which felt like a natural fit. All of these highlights can reveal important aspects for you to consider in your next phase, once you analyze them.
Vision
As you compile your values and ikigai, think about the work environments you like working in, and contemplate your strengths, your vision of success will likely start to take shape. Play with it, mold it so it is all yours and aligns with your values and moves you towards making the world a better place, YOUR ideal world.
These assessments and exercises are fabulous tools to get you going with a solid foundation of knowing who you are and what success looks like to you. Set aside time to give these focused effort and reflection and you’ll be well on your way to Meaningful Momentum in your career!
If you have any questions or want a sounding board, a collaborative partner to help you read your label, I’d be honored to be a part of your journey. Explore my coaching options.
