Strategies and plans are the first things that come to mind when most people think about their career paths. Society almost demands that you have a way forward. It begins very early in every human’s life. As a child, you were expected to know what you wanted to be when you grew up. By the time you are an adult, you may have wanted to be several different things: a doctor in fourth grade, a scientist in seventh grade, and an IT specialist in high school, but you ended up doing something entirely different.
As an adult, you may have figured out the path you want to pursue; you may even have a couple of options but are unsure what to do next. Whether you are eyeing a promotion at your job, want to pursue a different career, or feel completely stuck, there must be a next step. By the end of this article, you should find some clarity or a sense of direction to take you to the next step.
Questions to ask yourself before deciding the next move
The COVID-19 pandemic gave those looking for answers in their careers a chance to pursue a new path or set their sights slightly differently. With the lockdowns, work-from-home arrangements, and other restrictions taking effect almost immediately, many people were forced to restructure their lives and realize what mattered most. Many of us had a revelation that we needed to reorganize our lives as our jobs made us miserable. Creativity took center stage during this time, so many people got the freedom they needed.
However, the revelation sometimes comes slowly. There is a daunting period of confusion, usually engulfed with questions that must be answered. No matter how difficult it gets, asking these questions to determine if you are headed for where you truly want to be is essential. The following are some of the questions that everyone must ask themselves before deciding on their next career move:
What is my purpose?
Our purpose is what we were created to be, what we do with pride, and what we are. Your life’s purpose will often be connected to your work, but it is much more complicated than it sounds. Some people know what they were created and born to be seamless, while others have to try many things, test the waters a couple of times, and even get burnt by their decisions before discovering what satisfies them.
Deciding the next step in your career might be easier if you already know your purpose. For example, if someone truly believed they were a writer, they would create a blog or find a publishing company to print their work. Everything else that comes after will revolve around their writing career, including anything they like doing.
Sticking with the example of a writer, the writer might also love nature and be passionate about creating eco-friendly spaces and impacting climate change. This same writer can merge their love for words with their enthusiasm for nature and write life-changing stories to help make the world better.
The moral of the story is if you know what triggers your passion and gives you satisfaction, it will be easier to build a successful career around it and seamlessly include your hobbies and other interests to create a long-term and fulfilling endeavor.
Am I happy at my job?
How excited are you to go to work every morning? How eager or ready are you to participate in work-related activities? For example, if you are a nurse, how excited are you when your patients are getting better? How do you feel about caring for someone in their time of need? Something could be wrong if the answers are better than they should be.
Please remember that not everyone unhappy with their job has a different purpose in life. You may love your job, but the environment may be toxic, or you may have a rude superior. Regardless, there must be a reason at the end of the questions. Experts recommend writing down things you like versus those you don’t and comparing the two. This method may help you decide whether you need to reconsider your profession, but it may also help you identify things you can change to make yourself happier in your career. Until you can find happiness at work, it will be challenging to know how to grow.
Is there room for growth?
There are various ways to build your career. You can find a mentor to guide your decisions and inspire your work, increase your presence in the profession by expanding your networks, and even advance your skillset by pursuing a higher level of education.
Academic excellence is a great place to start if you want to grow professionally. Earn a master’s degree or go the extra mile to specialize in your studies to boost your worth. For example, healthcare professionals can become better leaders by venturing into administrative work. If you are a healthcare professional, you can work towards becoming an executive health practitioner by pursuing an Executive Master of Health Administration through a reputable institution such as the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa.
This program helps healthcare leaders spread their wings and succeed as executives. The Telfer Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) program is uniquely curated to merge healthcare and business management. The exec Health Ottawa program empowers health administrators to be innovative and progressive in meeting the industry’s ever-changing demands.
Taking on such opportunities sets you apart from others in the job market, which can give you the lead in driving your career upwards. Your career should give you the room to keep nurturing your abilities. However, you may belong elsewhere if you need help to proceed.
Where do I want to go from here?
This is a question we must ask ourselves as often as possible. Television hosts or interviewers often ask their guests where they see themselves in the next few years. As cliché as this question has become, it is vital as it forces you to think about the future.
Picture yourself in the field you are in now as a nurse, doctor, teacher, or professional. Do you want to have the same routine that you do now? Is there more you want to take on? If yes, how do you get there? A clear objective for the future is the first step to determining what is next. You may be far from what you want to achieve, but the vision surely guides your decisions at this stage of your career or life.
Dictate your next action towards your goal, no matter how small. For example, if you want to be a nursing educator one day, you know how to advance your academic knowledge. With that in mind, you can start by looking for a program that will lead you there, then save for the program. Saving might mean opening a savings account and dedicating a fraction of your income to that course. You will then have to build the discipline to consistently contribute towards your future education or make the necessary life changes. You will notice the thought sequence guiding important actions toward the final objective.
Strategies to help you plan your next career step
Planning your next career move is crucial to your success’s longevity and peace of mind. With a plan in place, you may meet challenges along the way, but you will have a blueprint to guide you toward finding solutions. Aside from professional development, proper planning helps you build financial stability and meet other personal needs.
Here are some of the essential skills you will need to start building an impressive career plan:
Articulate your goals
Every big firm has a set of objectives, as do some of the most successful people globally. Oprah’s goal in life was to become a millionaire at 32. She worked towards that and became the richest black woman in the United States. Science and psychology link goal setting to success; it evokes higher motivation, self-confidence, and autonomy, which are instrumental to success. Write your goals down and take time to process and assess them in your current position.
Identify your unique abilities.
Some people are naturally talented, while others can pick up skills quickly. You must understand what makes you stand out from your colleagues or competitors to know where to focus your energy. Sell your abilities in interviews or create a unique service that will help you secure a job or a role. Remember to identify your weaknesses, too, and work on improving them.
Describe a perfect day in your role.
If someone asked you today to describe your dream vacation spot, you would point out its features, the activities you can participate in, and even the food you will eat. Similarly, you can describe a wish list for your role, including the experiences you want to have at work. With that clearly articulated, you can compare the wish list with your current position and determine ways to improve it toward your ideal work environment.
List your inspirations
Why did you choose your career? A doctor may say they love saving lives, while an architect may say they love designing exceptional spaces for people to enjoy. Inspirations drive passion, so you can also identify your purpose. You can seek inspiration from the value of your job, peers, and other successful people in the industry. Maintaining a list of inspirations gives you a reason to work on elevating your career at any stage, which helps to build your next step.
Be creative
Creativity is all about putting a lot of care and thought into something, which is exactly what you need to tackle the challenges in your career. The most successful people are those who find unique ways to do little things. Creativity sparks innovation, which is what every industry is looking for. You can boost your creativity by staying informed by reading blogs, watching documentaries, and reading books. Whether integrating technology into your craft or adding unique ingredients to your product, thinking outside the box is imperative.
Build your brand
Your brand should exude professionalism and cohesiveness and highlight the best things about you and your business. An amazing brand will help you leave a great, lasting impression, which can help generate more traffic for you. Although some professions may require little attention, social media has made it possible to enjoy and share your experiences. One example is a nurse who went viral for her technique. She would sing for her patients to make them feel better, and the simple act earned her recognition worldwide. Design your brand towards creating meaningful experiences and align it to where you want to be.
Engage in industry forums.
Network! Network! Network! There is much to learn from peers, mentors, industry leaders, and strangers. Networking remains the most integral part of professional development as it helps you learn from others, participate in conversations, and identify professional skills you can add to your name. Attending conferences, seminars, boot camps, and other industry forums will get you in the right rooms with valuable people for your career. Professional development is a continuous process that requires you to invest in the places that direct you to the next step.
Create short-term goals
Short-term goals jog your mind and keep you working harder to attain long-term goals. Make sure your short-term targets align with your ultimate goal so that you constantly move closer to it. Remember that you may not win at all your short-term goals; some will take longer than others, while some plans redirect you to things you have not considered. Regardless, work to achieve them, as every success or failure will lead you to the next career stage.
Knowing your next move is crucial; all these tips should help you know where to begin. The key to success is dreaming as big as possible and developing smaller achievable goals that lead you there. As you try to understand your needs, embrace advice from people you trust, and do not hesitate to ask for help.
