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In any career, whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned professional, there are moments of uncertainty about the next steps. Decisions like staying with your current employer, accepting a competing offer, renewing your contract, or venturing into freelancing can be daunting. Furthermore, contemplating whether to remain in your current industry or to fully commit to a side gig that has the potential to flourish demands careful consideration. These crossroads are common, and navigating them requires thoughtful evaluation of your goals, interests, and the potential risks and rewards each path presents.
The distinction between a job and a career lies in the trajectory they take. In a job, the next step is usually clear-cut: you show up, perform your duties diligently, and over time, you may receive raises and promotions, following a linear path. However, a career is more akin to an endless maze, replete with twists and turns. It’s this complexity that makes a career both exhilarating and bewildering, offering a tapestry of opportunities and challenges far richer than the straightforward progression of a job.
How to Gain Perspective on Your Career
- Self-Reflection: Begin by introspectively assessing your current skills, passions, and long-term goals. Understanding your personal and professional desires is crucial in determining the direction of your career.
- Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback from colleagues and mentors. Their perspectives can offer valuable insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and potential
career growth areas. - Research Trends: Stay informed about industry trends and future job market predictions. This knowledge will help you adapt and align your
career path with evolving opportunities. - Set Clear Goals: Define specific, achievable career goals. Having clear objectives helps to focus your efforts and measure progress towards your desired career trajectory.
- Network Actively: Build and maintain a professional network. Networking provides opportunities to learn from others’ experiences and opens doors to potential career advancements.
- Professional Development: Continuously seek opportunities for professional development. Attending workshops, and courses, or obtaining certifications can enhance your
skills and make you more marketable. - Work-Life Balance: Prioritize maintaining a healthy work-life balance. A balanced life helps you stay motivated and productive in your professional journey.
- Explore New Opportunities: Be open to exploring new roles or projects, even outside your comfort zone. These experiences can provide fresh perspectives and reveal unforeseen career paths.
- Consider a Mentor: Finding a mentor can be incredibly beneficial. A mentor’s guidance and experience can help you navigate career challenges and decisions more effectively.
- Regular Review: Periodically review your career progress. Reflect on your achievements and reassess your goals to ensure they still align with your career aspirations and personal growth.
Navigating an ever-shifting maze is a daunting task when you’re in the midst of it. However, stepping back to view it from a distance can significantly simplify deciding your next move. So, how does one gain this broader perspective? Here are a few ideas to consider.
Take Your Vacation Time
If you’ve got vacation time coming to you, now’s the time to take it. While you’re off the clock, you can choose to simply relax, enjoy some breathing room, and get your mind off the work for a little while so that you can figure out how it fits into your life, or you can spend some time looking at competing offers. You could also devote yourself to other interests in order to figure out whether your energy would be best spent somewhere else. The point is to take some time away from your current position and see how you feel without it.
Get Some Outside Input
Here’s the thing about seeking an outside perspective: You’re not really trying to get their advice, you’re seeking their help in figuring out what you think you should do, deep down. Career counselors, therapists, and even psychics can be a tremendous help in this area. You might scoff at the idea of a tarot reading to help you determine your next move in your career, but even if you don’t believe in any sort of divine forces, the process of having a career psychic reading can help you to better organize your own thoughts and feelings. Think of it as watching a really good movie and coming away with a new perspective on something.
Take a Real Shot
If you have something you’ve been wanting to try but you’ve been sticking to your routine because you’re afraid of failure, just take the shot already. You don’t always need to quit your current position in order to pursue your passion. Take a weekend to make some contacts for your freelance business, and see what your prospects look like in that field. Be willing to fail, but make sure you fail small so that you’re not put into a position where you can never try again.
Determining your next move in your career is not a science. Sometimes there’s no answer to the question of “What should I do?” sometimes you have to look at it from a more personal point of view. You have to consider what you want to do, and you have to make sure that that’s really what you want and not just what you think is right.
As long as your bills are paid, there are no wrong moves, but some moves are more right than others.
This book will take you through understanding the way you feel now as well as how to improve your current situation immediately so you can create enough space to work on breaking out and doing what you truly love.
Joey Trebif is the pen name of Mark Fiebert, a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
