5 Strategies For Finding A Better Career Path
Publié le 9 November 2022
The right job that leads to a successful future will be waiting for you after using 5 strategies for finding a better career path.
Are you feeling dissatisfied with your current career path? Are you looking for a way to find a better job that will make you happier and more fulfilled? If so, you’re not alone. With the Great Resignation in full swing, there are many people considering leaving their job to look for a better career path. So what can you do to find a career that is a better fit for you?
Better is unique to everyone
Firstly, we must acknowledge that what is better for one person might not be better for another person. What works for your best friend or neighbour might not work for you. So, don’t get caught up in comparing your career to someone else.
Each person needs to take a holistic view at their own career and what will make them happy. People quit jobs for many reasons, which means there is no one size fits all approach. There are strategies, however, that everyone can employ on their own journey.
Let’s explore 5 strategies for finding a better career path. These effective and straightforward approaches are often employed by professional career coaches to help all types of professionals find the career that is right for them. We’ll explore each in detail so you can try them out yourself.
1) Specify What’s Definitely Not Working
When asked what they want, most people find it hard to dream up grand plans on the fly. It’s not that they don’t want great things, it’s that they don’t know where to start.
A good way to get clarity is to start with what you know for sure. In this case, that means specifying what exactly it is about your current career that isn’t working for you.
What kind of work do you find most rewarding and most frustrating? Is it the industry you’re in, the company culture, or something about the actual work itself? Once you identify what it is, you can begin to look for careers that will be a better fit.
For example, if you find yourself constantly bored at work, you might want to consider a career that is more challenging and stimulating. If you’re unhappy with the company you work for, maybe it’s time to consider working for a different type of organization.
By specifying what isn’t working, you can start to narrow down your options and get a better sense of what might be a good fit.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- -What kind of work do I find most frustrating?
- What about my current job makes me unhappy?
- Am I doing work that is stimulating and challenging?
- Do I feel like I’m making a difference?
2) Pick A Couple Of Must Haves
Once you have a good picture of what won’t work for you (anymore), now it’s time to focus on what will.
Start by brainstorming a list of things that are important to you in a career. These could be things like job satisfaction, work/life balance, salary, or opportunities for growth.
Once you have your list, pick a couple of items that are non-negotiable for you. These are the things that are most important to you and that you’re not willing to give up. Knowing what you want is one of the most important of the 5 strategies for finding a better career path.
For example, if you have young children at home, a hybrid work setup might be a must-have for you. Or, if you’re looking for more satisfaction in your work, you might want to find a career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of others.
Identifying your must-haves will help you eliminate career options that are not a good fit and focus on those that are.
3) Brainstorm From All Angles
Now that you have your must nots and must haves, it’s time to fill out the list a bit. You need options that you can filter down.
One of the best ways to come up with new ideas is to brainstorm from all angles. This means thinking about things like:
- The kind of work you want to do (e.g., hands-on, creative, analytical, etc.)
- The industry you want to work in (e.g., tech, non-profit, healthcare, etc.)
- The lifestyle you want to have (e.g., location, travel, hours, etc.)
- Your skills and strengths (e.g., writing, speaking, problem-solving, etc.)
The more options you have at this stage, the better. You can always narrow them down later. For now, just try to come up with as many ideas as possible.
One way to do this is to talk to people you know who have careers you admire. Ask them about their job and what they like (and don’t like) about it. This can give you some great insights and ideas for your own career search.
You can also look at job postings to get an idea of the kinds of positions that are out there. This can help you identify new industries or career paths that you might not have considered before.
Finally, don’t forget to use your imagination. Just because something hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it’s not possible. If you can dream it, you can probably do it. Even the most outlandish ideas should go down on your list.
By brainstorming from all angles, you’ll end up with a long list of potential career options. From there, you can start to narrow things down and find the path that’s right for you. If it helps to organise your thoughts and keep you focused, try recording your lists using whatever note taking app you prefer.
4) Stack rank all your possible options
You should have a fairly vast list all the way from sensible ideas to crazy ideas. Now it’s time to filter them down.
The best way to do this is to rank all of your options from most attractive to least attractive. To do this, you’ll need to consider things like:
- How well the option meets your must-haves
- Your interest in the work itself
- The feasibility of making the switch
- The potential downside of each option
Once you have all of your options ranked, you can start to eliminate the least attractive ones. This will help you focus on the most promising options and move forward with your career search.
If you’re having trouble ranking your options, it can be helpful to talk to someone who knows you well. They might be able to offer some insights that you haven’t considered. Former colleagues you trust are a good option as they may know how you work and have some interesting insight.
Friends can also be a good option but you just have to be careful not to compare your situation with theirs too closely. You don’t need to compete with your friends as they are on different journeys. What works for them might not work for you. So just ensure you ask them more objective questions rather than trying to compare your situations.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list, it’s time to start doing some research on the most promising options. This will help you get a better understanding of what each option entails and whether or not it’s right for you.
5) Do Your Research
Research is an important part of finding a career path that’s right for you. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of options, it’s time to start learning more about the most promising ones.
This means reading articles, talking to people in the field, and doing anything else you can to learn more about what each option entails. The more information you have, the better equipped you’ll be to make a decision.
Don’t forget to consider the potential downside of each option, as well as the upside. It’s important to be realistic about what you’re getting into. Otherwise, you might end up in a situation that’s not a good fit for you.
Bring it all together
Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to choose the option that you think is right for you. This decision will be based on a variety of factors, including your research, your gut feeling, and your overall goals. Your job search should now be far more informed and targeted.
Making a career change can be a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these 5 strategies for finding a better career path, you can narrow down your options and find a path that’s right for you. So don’t be afraid to explore your options and make a change. It could be the best decision you ever make.
