Feeling stuck or like you are merely floating aimlessly through your career is entirely normal. You may need more clarity, are rethinking your career path, or simply want to refine your direction. This feeling of uncertainty is a golden opportunity to re-evaluate and refine your career and make sure it is where you want to be. Another important aspect of refining your career is remembering that life can take you down many pathways. Your initial career goals might shift as you journey through it, or you might reach a certain point in your career and feel it has stagnated - you might find that the initial plan is outdated and it is time for a new one.

Refining your career might be your next step when you begin to think about your goals and whether you’ve obtained them. Let’s take a look! You can ask yourself several questions to help get clarity on your journey.

But First - Defining Your Career Path!

Before we look at how you can refine your career, we need to look at how you have defined your career path until now. This task might seem daunting; however, if you understand and take stock of where you currently are, you will be better able to evaluate your current situation and see where you’d like to make adjustments.

Often we make decisions and set goals of becoming senior management or leaders with no aftercare goals - what happens after you reach that point? Would you like to progress beyond senior management - if so, what are those goals1? This becomes part of how you define your current career situation - are you pleased with the position you are in, do you see yourself there in five years, or would you like to move onto a larger organisation or a higher position?

Taking Stock

When taking stock, it is essential to note where you currently are and whether you’ve reached your career goals until now. Understanding what you are looking for in a career is also vital - If you have not achieved what you initially wanted out of your career, why have you not achieved it, and what do you need to achieve it, or did your goals change? This road map of your career can help you refine it at a later stage.

Powerful Questions You Can Ask

Once you have defined your career and taken stock of it, you should dive deeper and refine it further. Here are ten powerful questions you can ask yourself to dive straight in.

The Self Evaluation

Understanding who you are and how you have progressed is critical when refining your career. Self-evaluation2 can be an enlightening experience, and it is a task that you should try to do throughout your career. As your career develops, you will undergo a transformation that will hone in on specific strengths while new ones will grow over time!

 What Are My Strengths?

Your strengths are a vital part of progress. As you learn and grow within a career, so do your skills and strengths. As you journey through your career, these will change - if you started your career with mediocre leadership skills, these might have evolved and become one of your most vital strengths!

What Are My Career Expectations?

What do you want out of your career? Would you like to gain anything from your chosen career? If you expect a career that will carry you through to retirement, or is it a stop-gap while you expand your passions? If you want to build a legacy, additional qualifications and training might be well worth the effort! These factors will help you establish whether the changes you want to make are worth the effort.

What Are My Interests?

Are you passionate about your career? Or do you keep your hobbies, passions, and interests separate from your work life? Many people might find that once they hit a certain point in their careers, they would instead pursue something more in line with their passions. You might find that if you are unhappy in a position, it is not necessarily the role itself but the industry that you’re in; when in an industry that matters, you might enjoy it a little more.

For example, you might be a senior project manager in the finance industry with a passion for gaming and software - if you have reached your career goals and want something a little more from your day to day - you might consider looking for a career as a PM in that industry.

However, there are also times when this indicates that you want to change career directions entirely and learn a new skill.

How Happy Am I Currently?

Your happiness in a position is vital. If you are unhappy, it is time to evaluate where that unhappiness comes from... Are you unhappy with the role, the company, or perhaps your industry? Is it as simple as remuneration, a lack of growth, or something deeper? If you are happy, consider staying on the same trajectory.

Evaluating Education

Your current skill set and qualifications will help you find exactly what you are looking for in your career.

What Are My Skills?

Skills can make or break a career. Some skills are non-transferable, while others can be carried3 in new directions if needed. If you want to change industries, you might be better suited to researching whether there are specific skills you can transfer or whether you need a quick course to develop those skills. However, If you have particular skills that are unique to your industry, you might find it easy to redefine your career path in your field of senior management within the same sector.!

What Qualifications Do I Have?

Qualifications are the backbone of any career - whether you are qualified through experience or actual qualifications, these are the makeup of your career. As we progress through our careers, we take stock of the experience and qualifications gained. Once you stop to refine your career, don’t be surprised to find that your qualifications and skills have exploded over the years.

Do I Want To Study Further?

Establishing whether or not you are willing to study is vital! This plays a prominent role in your career trajectory. Can you continue to grow or develop a career without needing to further your education and study? If not - are you willing to study more? Even as a senior in your role, additional skills and qualifications might help you progress in your career.

Future Goals

Your future goals can help establish whether you are on the right trajectory or need adjustments.

What is My Ideal Work-Life Balance?

Have you reached a junction in your career where you want to slow down and take it easy, or would you like to speed things up a little or continue at the same pace you are currently on? If you need more balance in your personal life, it might be time to cut back on any overtime or evaluate where you can make changes to get a perfect balance4. Finding the sweet spot might take a little time and effort. Setting clear goals is critical.

Try this; Setting a goal to get home at a set time or do the things you enjoy at least once a week.

Where Do I Want To Be In Five Years?

Are you happy to remain in the position you are in? Or would you like to progress to new heights? For some, it might be a case of staying put for a year or two before taking a leap and progressing. These questions can help you understand where you want to be in five years.

What Qualifications do I Want/Need?

Establishing that your career needs a shake-up is one thing - putting together a plan to get there is another! This is where you can specify what you need and begin making a roadmap5 for yourself on how to get there. This will allow you to ensure that you constructively reach those goals instead of stagnating.

References:

1. Indeed Career Guide. (n.d.). 20 Examples of Career Goals (Plus Why They’re Important). [online] Available at: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/examples-of-career-goals.

2. Quast, L. (n.d.). Self-Evaluations: The Key To Career Development. [online] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/l... [Accessed 14 Nov. 2022].

3. Indeed Editorial Team (2018). Transferable Skills: Definitions and Examples | Indeed.com. [online] Indeed.com. Available at: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/transferable-skills.

4. The Balance. (n.d.). What Is Work-Life Balance? [online] Available at: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/work-life-balance-2948691.

5. www.preceden.com. (n.d.). What is a Career Roadmap? (Explanation + Examples) | Preceden. [online] Available at: https://www.preceden.com/roadm... [Accessed 14 Nov. 2022].

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