Written by Vivian van der Wulp
How nice is it when your job energizes you? And not only that, but a job that makes enough money and is fulfilling? In short, the ideal picture in terms of career.
But what if things don’t work out the way you want them to? You don’t find the position that really suits you. You get to the point where you no longer feel the connection to your job. You are searching for something that really suits you or gives more meaning to life or society. In other words, you are at a crossroads. Which job really suits you, and how do you find out?
Which job really suits you?
The crossroads, as a career coach in this case, is something I would look at positively. All those paths mean opportunities, possibilities, challenges and choices. What a wealth that is. However, our brains often think otherwise. These make you feel obstacles and fears instead of seeing space and opportunities. This is quite understandable when you are not comfortable around your career.
But how do you discover which job really suits you? How do you make work energize you or fly that career switch? To get your compass back in direction, it is important to know who you are, what you want and what you can do. That sounds easier than it is when you have lost control of it.
Career Coach
If you can’t figure this out on your own, a course with a career coach could offer possibilities. This can answer your career questions and get you back in touch with your drives, talents and values. A coaching journey to discover this does not even have to be very long. ELFIN members can book an intake session with me at a significant discount to see if a career coaching program can help you discover which job really suits you. Coach sessions take place at your convenience, including evenings and weekends.
Getting started yourself
Do you already want to get started discovering which job fits who you are? Discover my book tips here and get started with the assignment below!
- What color is your parachute? A practical handbook for job seekers and career planners.
- The thirty-something dilemma by Nienke Wijnants. This book gives you the overview of what is going on in your head and how to deal with it.
- Career self-direction by Adriaan Hoogendijk. A practical book full of assignments when you want to work on your own to set direction.
Assignment
Here is an assignment I often do with my clients during a career journey. This short assignment can give you insights into what your qualities and talents are, as well as provide insight into what you consider important in a (possible) job or position.
The assignment:
- Write down three highlights within your career. Think about personal successes, important moments, insights. For example: an event you got to organize, getting that big client, getting your doctoral degree, etc.
- For all three highlights, explain why these were highlights for you. What was so special, beautiful or valuable about it? What were your personal core values that played a role in this? For example: For the 10th anniversary of our company, I was allowed to organize the anniversary party. This was a highlight for me because it was rewarding to organize it. It was assigned to a number of high-flyers within our organization. In addition, I found it immensely cool to keep track of everything that needed to be organized. I also really enjoyed relieving the management of this anniversary. It was super to see them enjoying themselves on the day without noticing the stress involved behind the scenes.
- For all the highlights, write down how it was a highlight for you. What did you put in yourself so that this was a success? What qualities and talents have you employed? For example: organizing the anniversary was really a success because I put my organizational skills to use. Planning and keeping an overview goes well with me. Also, working with work pressure gave me tremendous focus that I thrive on. On the day of the event, I got to manage everything which went well for me.
- Read your answers to questions 2 and 3 calmly and underline at 2 your core values which you have written down and at question 3 underline your qualities and talents that you have used. For example, answer to question 2: For the 10th anniversary of our company, I was allowed to organize the anniversary party. This was a highlight for me because it was a reward was to organize this. It was assigned to a number of high-flyers within our organization. In addition, I thought it was tremendously cool to see the monitor overview In everything that had to be organized. The relieve of the management of this anniversary I also liked very much. It was super to see them enjoying themselves on the day without noticing the stress involved behind the scenes.
- Looking at your underlined words, you can ask yourself whether you are currently living by the values that give you energy, and whether you are using your qualities and talents sufficiently.
With this assignment, you will discover more about yourself in terms of “what can I do” and “who am I. To really get a clear picture of this and also answer the question “what do I want?” you need a little longer.
