The entrance to the Temple of Apollo that housed the famous Oracle was inscribed with the words “Know Thyself.” Similarly, like all true wisdom, career success is always an inside job. It starts with knowing your skills; not simply what you do well, but what you do well and enjoy doing.
In the beginning there was the paycheck - we were motivated to do what we thought would get us paid.
Sometimes it was determined by what we did well, but more often than not, the decision was based on what was available. Many of us determined our educational choices solely on what we believed would deliver the best job offers, trying to anticipate the law of supply and demand.
We looked at external cues rather than internal desires.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the need to be practical - I started out majoring in English and philosophy before earning a degree in business – but the secret to thriving lies in finding the place where your internal desires and talents meet the external needs of the market. Before you start looking for a job you have to have a long-term career strategy.
Few people welcome job search with a cheery, “Great, now I can start that much needed introspection!” But it is an important place to start because the results will serve as a compass to direct your search.
Exercise:
- Make a list of all your accomplishments – not past responsibilities or duties.
- Assign each accomplishment a number from 1 to 5. Fives are things you loved doing and would gladly do again, and a one means “been there, got the t-shirt and don’t want to go back!”
- Look for any patterns or common threads.
Hint:
Have you ever had the experience of working on something where you lost track of the passage of time? Chances are that activity involved using the internal desires and talents that we’ve been discussing. When you are in your “zone,” work takes on a timeless (not endless!) quality. Try to think of what you were doing that created that state. Look for clues.
Assessment Testing
You may also want to consider more formal assessment testing. For the most part, assessment testing can be divided into two categories: self-directed assessments and those that require professional interpretation. For more information on various types of testing instruments and potential uses, check out the Career Assessment articles here on Job-Hunt.org.
Your Network
Your network can be a big help in setting your career direction. This is a great time to call upon your A-list for their insight. These are the people who know you well and have a stake in your success. Share what you’ve uncovered and ask for feedback.
Bottom Line:
Ultimately, all this research will help you to uncover your personal brand and value proposition – the nexus of internal desires and external market needs – which lies at the heart of the proactive job search.
© Copyright Kathy Simmons, 2012. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Proactive Job Search Expert Kathy Simmons is CEO of NETSHARE, the network for executives, where she sees her mission is to help NETSHARE members harness the Internet to advance their careers. Read Kathy's other musings on the NETSHARE Blog. Follow Kathy on Twitter @kathynetshare and connect with her on Linkedin linkedin.com/in/kathysimmons.
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