One of the most frightening prospects is figuring out if you’re on the right path in life and work. … [+] There’s always a palpable fear that you’re in the wrong profession.
Some people feel pressure heading into the new year, feeling guilty over not meeting their expectations for the previous year and harboring concerns about achieving their career goals in 2024.
One of the most frightening prospects is figuring out if you’re on the right path in life and work. There’s always a palpable fear that you’re in the wrong profession. The more time you spend in a dead-end job, the further you fall behind your peers. However, it’s not easy to pivot when you are deep in your career.
This is an opportune time to reflect upon where you are in your work life and gauge how happy you feel. Start taking assessments of your strengths and weaknesses. Pay close attention to whether or not you feel engaged, motivated, fairly compensated and find enjoyment in what you do for a living.
Here’s A Self-Checklist
Ask yourself several probing questions to help determine if you’re happy where you are or need to do something different.
Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself
- Does your job provide meaning, purpose or satisfaction?
- Do your current responsibilities allow you to leverage your innate talents?
- Are you actively engaged at work or just cybercoasting on social media throughout the day?
- Do you constantly feel drained and depleted?
- Is there internal career growth at your organization, or have you hit the wall?
- Does the job offer a healthy work-life balance?
- Do you feel respected and fairly compensated?
If you answered “no” to these questions, you are probably not in the right place.
Self-Reflect And Take Action
If a career change is what you need, start thinking about what you can do next. Consider what you desire out of your life and career. What will it take to get there? Once you establish the steps to reach your goals, it is up to you to execute them.
If you find yourself unsure, try trusting your gut instincts and believe in yourself. There’s no need to go it alone. Find a team of mentors, sponsors and truth-tellers and seek their support, advice, guidance and wisdom.
Talk to recruiters in your space to see if they have any opportunities. Tap into your network for ideas of different types of jobs and careers you can pivot into. It may take a while to transition to a new job or career. Be patient, as there will be a learning curve.
Once you find a new calling, commit daily to succeeding in your chosen field. Take action, and do not allow yourself to fall victim to self-doubt. However, don’t expect perfection and immediate success.
The United States economy has ricocheted back and forth within the last few years. Therefore, despite all your deliberations and decision-making, you will need to stay open-minded, flexible and willing to adapt to continual changes.
