It’s a new year; the perfect opportunity to take stock of your career, and reflect on how you can begin to enjoy what you do a little more. You might be asking yourself what exactly you want from your professional and personal life that will make your feel more fulfilled in the long run?
If you are reflecting on your career, here are some questions to ask yourself, which can help you determine your long-term professional goals and aspirations:
Does your current job bring you satisfaction?
It’s incredibly easy to let the fast pace of work and life distract us from addressing how satisfied we really are in our jobs. And, when you spend most of your days working, how much satisfaction you feel at work should be one of the first things you ask yourself.
Start to think about:
What parts of your job do you enjoy the most?
What would you change about your job if you had the chance?
Does your current job allow you to take steps towards fulfilling your long-term career goals?
It might seem like a big place to start but it’s important that your job brings you satisfaction, so this should frame the rest of your career reflections.
Does your job play to your strengths?
You may notice while working that you’re naturally better at some tasks than others. When we can play to our strengths at work it can help to improve our job satisfaction but it can also help to show our skill set to our employer and lead to increased progression opportunities.
So, begin to ask yourself:
What am I naturally good at, and do I get to demonstrate this in my current job?
Do I get the opportunity to upskill in my job and improve my work?
How well have I handled new tasks and responsibilities?
Asking these questions should show you whether there’s scope to take your current role in a direction that builds on your natural skill set or what you need to look for in your next role to ensure that you’re a better match.
What are your overall career goals?
Setting goals and working towards a planned future career is a great way to help you get more satisfaction from your job and gives you a better sense of purpose in your work.
Take this time to reassess where you want to take your career, starting by setting some short-term goals to achieve over the next 3 months. Some examples might include:
In three months I want to have learned how to [somehting relevant to your career] and be able to do it every day without needing support.
In three months I want to be able to take on more responsibilities which will help me move towards my end career goal.
In three months I want to have started a new job which is more rewarding than my current job.
More regular and short-term career planning will help you keep these goals in sight, ensure they are relevant to who and where you are in your life, and motivate you to achieve them.
Maintain self-reflection throughout your career
Use this time to reflect on your professional life and where your career is now. Mapping out the big picture of your career by asking yourself the questions above will help you maintain sight of what you want to be doing in your life and how you can stay satisfied and successful in the long term.
If reflecting on your current job has made you feel like it’s time to take the next step and look for a job somewhere else, get in contact with our specialist recruitment team on our website, by calling 020 7101 1633 or popping into our London Paddington office (find us here). As a lifelong career partner, we are with you every step of the way as you work towards your future career goals.