Being intentional about your career is necessary for achieving long-term success and satisfaction. As a career therapist, I've witnessed the transformative power of intentionality in career development. And this is something I reinforce with my clients, intentionality = clarity.
Here are the biggest insights when it comes to getting intentional in your career.
1. Understand Your 'Why'
Every career decision should start with understanding your motivations. Ask yourself: What's truly important to you in terms of work-life balance, opportunities, and overall experience?
In my own career, I prioritize culture, flexibility for work-life balance, and continuous learning opportunities. Knowing these priorities has helped me make confident decisions about career moves.
2. Focus on Skills, Not Just Titles
When considering your career trajectory, shift your focus from job titles to skill acquisition. Gather experiences and skills that will move you towards your larger goals.
This approach creates a holistic career path and might lead you to unexpected and exciting opportunities.
3. Embrace Community Support
One of the most impactful steps in my own career was embracing community support. The Re-work community, for example, offers invaluable resources and workshops that can help redefine your relationship with work. Their New Visions workshop provides a structured approach to connecting who you are, what you believe, and how you show up in your professional life. This community was impactful for me to work through my own career goals and prompted me to take the next steps on my entrepreneurship journey helping mid-career professionals clarify their career goals.
4. Seek Purposeful Mentorship
To make the most of mentorship, identify specific skills you want to improve and find mentors who can help you develop in those areas. To find a mentor, you can connect with people naturally who genuinely want to help you succeed or you can find more formalized programs to provide you with mentorship support.
Prepare questions and scenarios to maximize your time with your mentor. Remember, it's okay to have multiple mentors for different aspects of your career.
5. Run Towards Challenges
When you see a problem that needs solving, tackle it head-on. These situations often provide the best opportunities for learning new skills, gaining experiences, and building your professional brand.
6. Create an Intentional Career Plan
Developing an intentional career plan involves several key steps:
- Reflect on your values and priorities
- Assess your current skills and identify gaps
- Set clear, achievable goals
- Create an action plan with specific steps
- Regularly review and adjust your plan
6. Align Ambition with Purpose
Identify your core career values to make better career choices and find teams and companies that align with your priorities.
This alignment ensures that your ambitions are in harmony with your personal values and purpose.
7. Prioritize Well-being
Remember that career success is intrinsically linked to your overall well-being.
When I started prioritizing my well-being in my career, I naturally attracted opportunities and career clarity shorty followed. When we nurture our body and brain the ideas flow, our energy shifts, and we are open to opportunities that shifts our career.
Reflection: What action can you take today to be intentional about your career? Here are some ideas to get started.
- Join a professional community or attend career development workshops/training.
- Schedule regular reflection time to assess your career goals and progress.
- Reach out to potential mentors who can guide you in specific skill areas.
- Update your career plan, focusing on skill acquisition and value alignment.
- Explore new challenges in your current role or industry to broaden your experience.
Remember, you don't have to navigate your career journey alone. As a career therapist, I'm here to support you in clarifying your goals, overcoming obstacles, and creating a fulfilling professional life. Together, we can develop a personalized strategy that aligns with your values, strengths, and aspirations.
By being intentional about your career choices, understanding your core values, and embracing community support, you can craft a career that not only advances your professional goals but also contributes to your overall well-being and life satisfaction. Take the first step towards an intentional career today – your future self will thank you.
Ready for a career refresh? Check out The Career Redesign program.