One of the most important yet overwhelming questions you’re asked over the course of your life is, “What do you want to do with your career?” You might hear this question a lot from your family, friends, peers, teachers and even people you just met.
The pressure to know what career path you want to pursue after graduation is nerve-wracking. There are a ton of options and possibilities out there. So if you feel lost and confused — know that you are not alone. You might even feel this way after you get your degree. Now what?
Researching, networking, and conducting informational interviews are some ways that can help you gain clarity. However, it’s easy to feel exhausted from information overload and all the noise and unsolicited advice thrown at you. There comes a time where you need to create space for yourself to reflect on your personal and professional experiences in addition to all the work you do to figure it out.
Here are some questions for you to dive deep and ask yourself as you tune into your intuition:
1. What are your hobbies, interests, passions or curiosities?
Start with brainstorming some of the hobbies and interests you have and what you spend most of your spare time doing. Think about the extracurricular activities you’re involved in which could be anything from a club or team sport you’re a part of and any volunteering you do. Then think about if there’s anything that you’re passionate about whether that’s an activity or a cause. Give yourself permission to expand your mind and think back to your childhood dreams. Do these passions and dreams still align with you today? Finally, if you don’t know what you’re passionate about, ask yourself, “What am I curious about?” Is there something you want to learn more about or always wanted to try?
2. What are your strengths?
A good place to start is to review your academics and past accomplishments. You also want to assess your strengths beyond the tasks you do and the knowledge you have such as language proficiency and technical skills. Take note of your transferable skills such as communication and problem solving and any personal traits such as honesty and reliability. A great way to discover your strengths is to ask for feedback from family, friends, classmates or colleagues. Finally, ask yourself “What strengths do I want to be known for?”
3. What are your values in the workplace?
Identify your top five values based on your previous work or volunteer experiences. Some of your values may include meaningful work, close relationships, personal development, creativity and more. Try doing a values self-assessment test to be aware of what your core values are. Doing work that aligns with your values will allow you to be more authentic, confident, and fulfilled.
4. What is non-negotiable in your career?
One of the best ways to learn more about what career you want and is a good fit for you is to define your non-negotiables. That way, you can eliminate jobs and career paths that don’t align with who you are and focus on your values. These non-negotiables can be anything that you expect from your employer and work environment which may include positive company culture, work-life balance, mentorship, and opportunities for career advancement. Being clear about your non-negotiables will help ease your decision-making process.
5. What type of impact do you want to make?
What do you care about? Who do you want to help? What are you struggling with or have struggled with in the past? These questions will uncover some of the things that you truly care about which will motivate you when you do work that serves a particular purpose. We all want to make a difference in some way, and “How can you make a difference with what you have to offer?”
6. Who do you want to become?
Take a step back and focus on the person you want to become. Every opportunity is a great learning experience, so think about who you want to become in the process. Think of three adjectives that you want others to remember you by. Then work on developing those character traits and find a job that will further help you learn and grow as the person you aspire to be.
7. What is your definition of success?
Be honest here: if time and money were no resource, what would you be doing? What is your dream job? What does success truly mean to you when you strip away societal expectations? Success can mean doing work that fills your heart with joy, stability and financial freedom, or the ability to grow and learn every day by doing work that challenges you. Redefine success on your own terms and ask yourself what kind of lifestyle you want to create for yourself.
Job-hunting can be a long and daunting process but it doesn’t have to be. Journaling out the above questions will help you narrow down opportunities that are the best fit for you based on your core values and who you are. It’s okay to feel lost and confused when it comes to exploring what career path you should take. Be patient with the process and stay true to yourself!
Originally published at TalentEgg.