Career Q &
A
By Mitchell Stephenson
January 16, 2012
I have made a New Year’s resolution to find a new career — but where and how do I even start?
Congratulations! New Year’s is usually a time when we all reflect on how things have gone in the past, look at where we are now, and consider our future options, at least to one degree or another. Some of us may want to quit smoking, lose weight, or start a new project, such as finding a new career. Unfortunately, as we all know or have experienced ourselves, most of these resolutions don’t stick. Here’s a simple process that might help you increase your odds on the career side of your resolutions:
STEP 1: Think and take stock
It helps to clearly see your starting point. Take an inventory of your career so far: a list of what your skills, education, and work experience entails — that means everything, the good, bad, and ugly. Think about your current job and also any others you have held in the past. Take a general, or functional, view of this, and don't focus on the more specific aspects of a particular skill, so for example, if you are an accountant, you might have analysis of financial information and creating action plan recommendations rather than completing Head Office Monthly Financial Review.
Lessons From Facebook
Once you have a comprehensive list, then go all “Facebooky” and add in your likes and dislikes for each item on your list. Finally, look at other areas of your life, your interests and hobbies that you really enjoy. Be careful when listing activities such as watching TV, or reading — ask yourself a further question of what types of shows you enjoy watching or the subjects of books you like reading. You are looking for general clues as to what things you like to do, as well as things you don't like to do.
STEP 2: Write Your dream job description”
Once you've created your inventory list of skills and abilities, start a daydream. Think about and visualize a future in which you are happy and productive in a career, and write down what it looks like. What are your hours? Do you need to commute, if so, how long? What does your office look like? Who are your co-workers (if any)? What kind of industry is your dream job in? Once you can see in your mind’s eye as much detail as possible, sit down at your dream desk (if that’s what you work at) and start a “dream activity.” A dream activity is most likely going to be one of the things on the list you created in step 1 of the exercise that you liked. Extend that out to another activity, and so on.
Finally, make a list of what you were doing at your dream job, which is your dream job description.
STEP 3: Dream job analysis
Armed with your dream job description, start talking to friends and family about it. Try not to focus only on the constraints you will likely hear at this stage (most can be overcome), but on the opinions and ideas about the job itself. This will help you to make decisions on whether you should make a move toward your dream job, or perhaps adjust your “Dream Job Description.”
Try to get some time on your own to do this, away from the day-to-day distractions and worries. It doesn’t need to take long, even an hour can go a long way. Going to a coffee shop, library or other non-distracting place can be a great space to think.
This simple process may not be for everyone, but it is a relatively quick and painless way to find out more about yourself, and hopefully move your career and life forward in the new year.
Good luck!
Mitchell Stephenson M.A., CPCC, is a senior partner and a certified professional career counsellor at Catalyst Careers, a career transition, counselling, and outplacement firm. Mitch has been involved in human resources, career counselling and coaching in the health and legal sectors for many years. To contact him, visit: www.catalystcareers.ca.
To submit a question for a future column, please email it to careercoach@charityvillage.com.
No identifying information will appear in this column.
Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based
on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline
only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty,
express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or
in part within this article.
Visit the Career Q&A Archive to
view past questions.
