It’s very important to choose a career that inspires you + doesn’t make you feel like working long. One simple reason for that is because, this is where you are going to spend majority of your time on daily basis.
Look at the what the leading research says:
Alright, NOW How to Find That Right Career?
1. Know Yourself Before You Know What To Do
You have to know what sparks that light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world.” — Oprah Winfrey
When I started looking for an option, I had a problem of plenty. I didn’t know which option to pursue.
Keeping the titles aside, I was not sure if I would like the actual work.
“The only way to be content with what you do… Is…. To do things that meet your core needs and aspirations”
The challenge is that many people don’t know their core needs and aspirations. They will just try to follow what is trending, what is paid well or what will be prestigious.
I looked for help to know myself better and came across multiple assessments / evaluation systems to explore myself..
I blocked a weekend to think deeply and answer questions about my life in the future
- What is my ideal family situation?
- What fitness do I have?
- What faith do I have?
- What friends do I have?
- What is my financial situation?
- What work am I doing?
- What am I doing for personal growth?
I then used 5 Why framework to ask myself
“Why it was important to me?”
After repeating it for 4–5 times for each question, I arrived at a pattern of core needs and created a purpose/mission statement.
I wanted to create an impact on the society in a scalable way through my work. While it was a broad definition, it became a starting point to find and select work opportunities. I also needed safety and security in all aspects of life with a definite path.
You have to know what you need deep down to find out what you want.
- Find some alone time when you can think without interruption
- Answer the questions above and follow the steps mentioned
- Arrive at your core needs (2–3 max) and purpose (1–2 max)
This template can help you organize your thoughts in this process. You can also reach out to DoNew and work with their team to brainstorm about your goals and purpose.
You will be bombarded with external influences about “what you should do”. The only way to clear confusion and move ahead with supernatural force is to be guided by what sparks the light in you.
2. Know What Excites You
“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.” — Simon Sinek
We all have the knowledge of things we love – only if we can uncover it.
One of the best ways to do it is to go back to your childhood.
What excited you?
What kept you busy for hours during the summer holidays?
Do you have memories of doing something that made your heart sing?
Another way of doing is to evaluate your professional experiences so far. Even if you are starting out in your career, you can look back at volunteering experiences. Uncover what excited you beyond any external reward.
Which ones did you enjoy the most?
Which project gave you the satisfaction that lasted for days?
What do you feel most proud of?
As a child, I loved being in the moment, sightseeing & travelling experiences.
In my professional life, I was most proud of the work where I created something — an impact-driven organization, a strategy to solve a problem.
Work that gave opportunities to be in the moment and create something meaningful stirred me.
Your purpose will help you choose a path amongst many alternative routes. Knowing what you love will tell you how to travel on that path.
Spend time to audit your life and find these insights.
You don’t need to have the perfect answer. Right now, you only need a starting point that reflects your current awareness level. Your surroundings will evolve. Your insights will evolve with it. I will share how to pivot with that knowledge in the latter part inside my Job Readiness Hub Community.
3. Know Your Strengths
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” — Albert Einstein
Once you become clear about your purpose and what excites you, the challenge will be to find opportunities that align with it.
The biggest roadblock in this process was not the availability of options. It was my belief that I don’t have relevant experience or I will have to start from scratch without the promise of success.
I needed an awareness of my strengths and the conviction that can be applied in different contexts. I followed this process
- I identified times when I performed very well and made a note of my strengths
- I reached out to my friends and colleagues to take feedback on their perception about my strengths.
- I took an external assessment to confirm my self-understanding and discover strengths that I had overlooked
This knowledge helped me accept rejections and overcome moments of self-doubt. It helped me to not settle for what seemed workable but push for what aligned with my mission.
4. Audit The Market
At this point, I knew my purpose and the kind of work I found exciting. I had a belief in my strengths. I was ready to seek opportunities.
- I created a list of relevant roles to my knowledge. I asked friends and colleagues for ideas. I checked LinkedIn and other job postings. But For YOU, Now you have an amazing Readiness program “Job Readiness Hub”
- Then I found people who work in those roles and understood what they did. When I didn’t know someone personally, I posted on social media. My learning is that if you message 20 people, at least one of them would be happy to talk to you. But now, You have an amazing community of people and leaders to help you via “Job Readiness Hub”
I also resisted the urge to fixate my mind on the “job title”. Instead, I asked myself:
What skills do I need to bring my purpose to life? What exposure am I seeking?
I broke down every option and evaluated it from this perspective.
In the best-case scenario, you find work that aligns 100% with your purpose. e.g. You may decide to launch your own startup or join where your friends are working or move into an adjacent role within your company (if you are already working.)
I had multiple options and wanted to understand my own compatibility towards them. I sought opportunities to do a small project with the team.
This helped me to remove bad alternatives and make a bigger commitment.
Don’t get disheartened if you can’t land into a role that you thought was perfect. You only need to find an opportunity that gives you relevant skills and experiences.
It would be your stepping stone. Maybe 50% of your time would be engaged in work that is aligned. That energy will motivate you. Things will flow and you will find options you never envisaged.
5. Keep Pivoting
“Always be a work in progress.” — Emily Lillian
Your needs may change with marriage, kids or any other pivotal moment.
You may realize something about yourself that you were not aware of before.
Your industry may change drastically with the adoption of new technologies.
I realized that finding your why and the work that aligns with it is a continuous process.
I recommend you to repeat the process every 2–3 years. If things are aligned, continue the momentum. Else, make another pivot towards your purpose.
Accept difficulties, but don’t accept unhappiness at work.
6. Focus on Values
Here’s the truth about meaningful work: It’s entirely subjective.
For the most part, fulfillment boils down to three things:
- feeling aligned with the company’s mission,
- enjoying your day-to-day work, and
- feeling like a valuable member of the team you’re working with.
It has less to do with what products the company sells, or the exact nature of its environmental footprint, or the robustness of its corporate responsibility programs. You will find talented, smart, caring people working at companies that run the entire spectrum of these things. It’s a matter of who fits where.
What’s consistent among people who feel inspired by their work is an alignment of values. “Values” is a vague term, but we view this as a feeling that what someone does is consistent with who he or she is.
If you’re trying to choose between two very different opportunities (for example, a well-respected job at a marketing agency vs. a role at an interesting but unknown social enterprise), try not to base the decision on salary or resume or the expectations of friends and family. Make the decision based on this question: Where can I most effectively live my values while learning the most?
Conclusion
Life is short. You will spend more than 50% of your time working.
Choose joy over misery in that time.
Think about your ideal future and find your purpose.
Look back at your past and know what gives you a kick.
When you have clarity, opportunities will manifest in your life.
You will experience the joy of being in sync with your purpose, every day.
May all the energy in the world help you!
Add a Comment