Find your why, find your way!
By Bianca Praino
Nov 2020
"On today’s journey to the future you don’t have a choice between the road less travelled and the road more travelled. No one has been where you are going. No one has experienced the future you will experience. The only choice you have is the road never travelled"
(Gelatt, 2008).
Gelatt’s words reminds us that career journeys are unique to the individual. No two people will ever share exactly the same career journey, because they don’t share the same personality type, preferences, learning style, genetics, upbringing, social and cultural environment, community influences and education. These are all significant variables which have a profound impact on how we go through life, acquire experiences and consequently how we approach our career planning and development.
I have come across numerous individuals who seek out careers support to improve their CV. The usual case is that they have been firing out the same CV to numerous employers without success and it has become more about quantity over quality in the hope that if they send out fifty CVs, they will get at least one interview. Surprise surprise this doesn’t work for them.
The common theme which arises during a session with these individuals is that they are unable to describe their job preferences, the nature of the role they seek, type of company they would like to work for, workplace environment, location or skills they want to apply to a job. Does this sound like you?
‘I just want any job. I don’t care'.
Is this also you?
I have still to meet someone who would happily do any job. When questioned on this, it becomes apparent that people always have preferences and things they certainly wouldn’t do. So, with this in mind, what is the job you definitely wouldn’t do and why? The process of elimination can be very powerful for moving forward in your career, so reflecting on past jobs, experiences and activities you have done, which you haven’t enjoyed can be just as helpful as looking at what you have enjoyed and are good at.
You are the only person who can give yourself career clarity and it is a process, which takes time. But always remember there is help at hand. You are not alone. If you feel panicked, overwhelmed and a bit all over the place with your job search, stop and ask yourself why you are applying for the jobs you are.
Are they really the jobs you want?
Clarifying your career vision is the first step to preventing you from getting into a situation of panic and desperation. Your career vision is not fixed, but fluid and will change depending on your age and stage but knowing what you want at each stage of your career is pertinent before taking action.
Step 1 Visualise
Step 2 Manifest
STEP ONE – Clarify
Visualisation is all about looking at the bigger picture and opening your mind to gain some perspective on how your career and life intertwine. It is virtually impossible to disconnect the two and chances are if you are unhappy in your job, it will have an impact on your mental health and life. Don’t worry, help is at hand.
There are a number of activities you can start with to help clarify your vision. These activities are tried and tests by myself and on individuals I have worked with.
My Perfect Day Exercise
Write down in detail what your perfect 12-hour day would look like from when you wake up, to when you go to bed. Be as specific as you can and approach it as though you had no limitations or restrictions. This is a powerful exercise to identify what is really important to you in your everyday life.
My Future CV
This is an activity I learnt about whilst studying on my PGDip. You can write it for five years time. It really helps focus you on what you need to do to get to where you want to be in five years. Including specific information under the education section and work experience can help you work backwards for what action you need to take now to get you there.
My Values & Non -Negotiables
Make a list of around ten things related to career/ work criteria. Then, from the list, rank each in order of importance, 1- most important, 10- least important. Now take up to five things from your list and circle three from the five.
These are your non negotiables and having these will help keep you focused in your job search.
Vision Board
You can do this digitally, or by hand with mixed media but the important thing is that you collect images, photos, materials, fabrics, draw or write words which inspire you and you keep the board somewhere you can see it to remind you of your vision. P.s you do not need to be ‘arty’ to do this.
Thoughts into Words
Get out of your head and start writing things down. Not typing- writing with a pen and paper! Seeing your thoughts and beliefs in ink on paper and reading it back encourages reflection and self-awareness.
Start with finish these sentences for yourself:
· If I could do anything, I would…
· I feel motivated when I….
· The most important thing about a job for me is …
· The word career means to me…
· The priority for me in my life at the moment is…
STEP TWO - Manifest
If you have a clear and authentic vision, manifesting it is not as hard as you may anticipate it to be. Most of the time when people are unsuccessful with achieving goals, it can be that the goal itself was misplaced and not authentic. You should be feeling motivated, energised, excited about manifesting your vision (as long as it is authentic and true to yourself).
There are various goal setting strategies you can adopt on the way to manifesting your vision, such as the SMART goal approach, or drawing out a timeline highlighting key milestones and dates.
I would suggest at least one small thing every day towards your vision since I am a huge believer that, every decision is a career decision. Every little really does help!
Get visualising!
Thanks for reading
Ciao for now!
Bianca
Get in contact, careers@praino.co.uk.