4 questions to ask yourself to rediscover your career

When envisioning your career path, it’s important to think deeply about yourself. As we go through different stages of life, it is likely that our career outlook may change. Therefore, it is a good idea to take a step back occasionally to reflect on yourself. Here are four questions to help you start rediscovering your career. 

1. Who do I want to be, and why?

Crystallising the purpose and intent of your professional career is the first and hardest step. When you think of your career or even your life, what are the images that surface in your mind? Why do you do what you do? What drove you in deciding your past career moves and your daily activities? Think back to what made you choose your current career path. Has it been all you thought it was supposed to be? What was the most defining moment of your career so far? Have there been any changes to your perspective and motivations? Do you still look forward to working at your current role, company, or industry? When answering these questions, don’t restrict yourself to your professional work. Think about your interests and activities outside of work as well. Often, the meaning we find in our after-work hobbies can be translated to our jobs and workplaces too. For instance, if you enjoy hosting parties, why not be part of or organise an employee engagement group. This will better connect your colleagues and foster a friendly company culture.

2. Where am I now?

Reflecting on your current reality sets a foundation for you to work on. Look back at your career and update yourself (and your CV and social media profiles). Review your strengths, weaknesses, skillsets, certifications, values, likes, and dislikes. It is important to realise that our perceptions of reality might differ from others. Tackle this issue by noting down what you think comes natural and effortless to you. Seek the honest opinion of trusted family members, friends, colleagues, or your professional recruitment consultant. Again, don’t restrict yourself to work-based evaluations. Commitments outside of work can provide you with valuable transferable skills too.

3. Where do I want to be, and by when?

Once you have a clearer idea of your career goals, work out your desired end state and timeline. Think about how much longer you can realistically work for. Calculate backwards to figure out the amount of time you have left. Be open to exploring options that might not directly lead you towards your career goal. For example a horizontal career move or a change in location. The experience you gain through such roles sometimes places you in a better position for future progressions. What if you remain unsure of your desired destination? Don’t worry—it may be counterproductive to plan too far ahead for your career path. It restricts you from being flexible and adaptable to different circumstances. Furthermore, the vast uncertainty of your future might cause you to freeze up in fear. Instead, steadily and methodically plan your career moves one step at a time.

4. How do I get there?

The final stage is to set out your own career journey plan to get to your desired end state. What are the practical actions you can take now to head towards your imagined finish line? We suggest first identifying the areas you need to develop and upskill yourself. Then list out the resources you have on hand to evaluate if any are suitable to be tapped into. During times of crisis, the government may have specially ramped up upskilling and career opportunities to bolster faltering economies. Make sure you are fully aware of any such special schemes and utilise those that are relevant.

Lastly, a long-term perspective is important in reviewing your career. In your day-to-day work, you may feel that your work is unrelated to your career goals. Even if you feel frustrated that you haven't progressed, it is important not to put an excessive burden on yourself. Take a break from time to time and enjoy your career journey with a broad perspective.