There are countless reasons people have for deciding to change careers. You might realize that there’s something better out there for you. You may start to feel like your talents are wasted where you are, or, you may simply grow bored and listless in your current role. Whatever is driving you to get out of your current career, it may not offer a clear and obvious alternative.
If you know you need to do something else, but you’re not sure what - Lightning Clout wants to help. We’ve put together this guide to help you identify your goals, strengths, and, most importantly, your passions, to help you find the best and most fulfilling career path for you.
Top-Down Planning
One way you can visualize your goals and make them a reality is to embrace top-down planning. This is when you start by identifying the big picture you’d like to reach, and then break it down into small, achievable steps you can use to get there. This is perfect for clarifying your career goals since it allows you to imagine several viable paths to the same ultimate outcome.
Perhaps you would like to create a successful, sustainable business of your own. To reach that goal, you’ll need to hire employees, figure out creating a timesheet spreadsheet, come up with a scalable business plan, market your company successfully, etc. Additionally, you will need to create a business plan and determine tasks to outsource or delegate. Working backward from the end goal helps you keep that finish line in mind so that each step along the way is in pursuit of your ideal life by coming up with a scalable business plan to market your company successfully, etc.
Identifying Strengths
Another major step you can use to figure out your next career path is to identify your strengths.
It’s easy to go through life constantly using your best abilities, but never recognizing their impact or merit. This is part of the reason we find it so hard to shine in interviews or build resumes that truly sell our abilities. Too often, we fail to see what we bring to the table.
Fortunately, there are many tools you can use to figure out and identify your strengths. There are several surveys online designed to show you the best characteristics you bring to the table. You can also talk with friends, family, and workplace peers and supervisors to figure out what it is you uniquely offer. Be mindful when talking to current coworkers, however - asking about strengths can be a giveaway that you’re on the hunt for new work, which can put your current role in a precarious position.
Moving Toward Your Passions
Finally, we want to highlight the importance of following your passion in career building. If you’ve been feeling like you need a career change, odds are you’re not feeling fulfilled by what you’re doing. Some people manage to fit their true calling into their free time, but that isn’t sufficient for everyone. If you can find a way to fit your passions into your career, the odds of feeling satisfied by your work are much, much higher.
To identify your passions, think about what activities you do - even periodically - that bring you joy, hope, or excitement. This could be anything from writing to woodworking to advocating for important causes. List these activities out, and then think about what kind of careers will allow you to do that kind of work. Stay open to the directions your passions might take you in - you could wind up discovering an amazing path you’d never have considered otherwise.
Changing careers is scary, and it requires having a solid direction to move in next. We hope this article gives you the resources you need to discover just what that direction is. Once you do, you can get started on your journey toward a more fulfilling future!
Interested in personalized career advice? Lighting Clout can help - Get In Touch Today!
