Self-knowledge: The key to finding the right career direction
Your career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end and a
direction. For many people, the present direction of the career
is probably not a result of entirely their own choices. If, for
some reason, you are not happy with the direction of your
career, there is a way out: Take charge of your career and
change its direction.
1. Know yourself
Has it happened with you that after desperately looking for
something (e.g., keys) all over the place, you eventually found
it right in your pocket or drawer?
That's exactly the case with finding a new career direction.
Usually, we try to search for a new career direction by looking
all around, for example, at hot jobs, emerging fields,
prestigious companies, friend's career, what's safe and so on.
Ironically, we fail to look for the answer where it actually
lies: inside us.
The secret of finding the right career direction is not to look
outside but to look inside. Know yourself and you will
automatically know the right direction for your career.
2. Dig deeper
Most people define themselves is terms of what they write in
their resumes. That's just the tip of the iceberg. To really
know yourself, dig deeper and uncover your:
(a) Strengths (b) Personality (c) Values (d) Interests
(a) Strengths
Your strength is what you do well and enjoy doing it. We never
fail to admire strengths in top athletes, painters, writers,
leaders but fail to ask "What is my strength?"
Strengths have a solid connection with a person's career.
According to Peter Drucker, a person can only perform from his
strength. In other words, mediocrity is guaranteed if we fail to
use our strengths. So know your strengths and get into a career
that allows you to leverage your strengths to the maximum.
Discover your strengths by asking:
- What am I good at and also enjoy doing? - What makes me feel
energized? - What comes naturally and easily to me?
(b) Personality
Personality is the sum total of a person's behavioral,
temperamental and emotional traits. For example, some people are
by nature extrovert and enjoy meeting other people. But some
people are born introvert and feel more comfortable when left
alone.
Studies show a direct link between a person's personality and
his career. Indeed, if you are an extrovert person, you would do
well in roles such as sales, marketing, public relations. But an
introvert person would be better off in roles that do not
require public dealing.
To know your personality in detail and its implications on your
career, appear at personality tests such as Myers Briggs Test
Instrument (MBTI).
(c) Values
Values are what you consider important and valuable. Values
differ from person to person and can range from things like
money, prestige and power to more subtle things like respect,
harmony and independence.
Your values hint towards the kind of work that will suit you.
For example, if you value "achievement, "you would do well in
roles that regularly throw challenges at you. Someone else,
however, may value "helping others" and, therefore, would do
well in occupations that provide an opportunity to serve others.
To know your values, ask yourself what is important to you, make
a list and prioritize the items. You can also use value
inventories on the Internet to identify your values.
(d) Interests
Should the work be interesting? Yes, for an important reason: If
your work arouses your interest, you are going to do well.
History shows that great achievers always pursued what
fascinated them. Akio Morita shunned the option of joining the
family business of sake brewing to pursue what he was interested
in: an electronics start-up. And he created Sony.
Doing the work that interests you can have a lasting impact on
your career. To uncover your interests, find out what fascinates
you and draws your attention.
Knowing your strengths, personality, values and interests is
like having a compass with its needle pointing towards the right
direction for your career.
Atul Mathur