One of the most common problems of people who are coming to me for careers support is that they don't have much clarity about what they are trying to achieve with their careers.
Imagine setting out on a road trip without a destination in mind. You may enjoy the adventure of the journey for a while, but eventually you could find yourself lost, frustrated, unsure of which way to turn, or feeling like you have a made a wrong turn that has derailed you completely.
The same goes for your career.
Having a strong sense of direction and purpose can guide your decisions and actions towards your desired outcomes.
Flexibility and Fluidity
Having clarity on career goals does not mean inflexibility or lack of fluidity in your career.
It can be likened to having a vision to achieve something, and the steps you take to achieve that vision can be modified or even emerge along the way.
Vision is a powerful tool that keeps you on track to achieve something bigger and more rewarding than just a job. Goals are the modifiable steps, but they still need to be leading you somewhere.
Having a Personal Vision
I have a very powerful vision for my own career, which is to develop the hard skills, soft skills and work experience I need to be able to earn a good living in the careers and employability industry, as an employed or self-employed person, depending on my current circumstances and mindset.
I want the built-in career flexibility, but this does not come without some structure around it and achieving the steps to put that structure in place.
Knowing your Path
Knowing that I want to play in the careers and employability industry and how I want to play in it has been key.
This clarity has enabled me to decide which courses and qualifications I should do next (such as postgraduate courses in careers and employability) and what work experience I need to build upon (such as doing more careers coaching).
Knowing that I would like to remain in a leadership role (whether employed or self-employed) also gives me clarity as to which leadership skills I need to continue to develop, such as my strategic leadership skills.
Clarity also makes it easier for me to decide where to build my networks, and which organisations and individuals I should be networking with to help me achieve my goals (such as joining associations for careers and employability professionals or leadership and management).
If I decide to shift or add to my career, such as learning and development, one of my new goals could be to develop a training programme for careers coaches. This is still in line with my vision, I have just flexed my goals.
If I decided to change my career completely, say to software engineering, I will need to have a new vision and new steps, as well as be willing and able to take the time to implement these changes.
If you have no clarity, you may be floundering, and any courses you do, work experience you try to gain, or networks you try build may give you a very short-lived or unfulfilling career experience along your journey.
Clarity helps you to build something significant, lasting and results-bearing.
Practical Reasons for Career Clarity
There are also very practical reasons as to why you need to have a clear sense of what you want to achieve in your career:
Developing yourself within a core industry: Many industries are clearly delineated and require individuals to build a presence within that industry for a focused career. Take human resources and people-related industries for example. There are lots of different types of HR and people roles, but the industry requires a minimum level of competence to successfully compete. Many people in these industries have joined professional associations and are continuously developing themselves while staying up to date with the latest information.
Overcoming career obstacles: If challenges arise along your career journey, having clarity on where you are headed can give you the courage to tackle these issues. If you find that you are lacking certain skills, knowing where you want to go can motivate you to seek out the right courses. If you receive negative feedback from a job interview or client, but have a clear notion of your career trajectory, you can view the feedback as a chance to grow in the right direction. If your industry is rapidly changing due to technology, you may be more motivated to acquire new technology skills, which will still enable you to achieve your career objectives, albeit in a slightly different way than envisioned. If you lose your job unexpectedly, you will know which new roles to target in your job search.
Motivation and engagement:
Having career aims creates motivation and drive. It enables you to prioritise tasks and channel your energy into your chosen career boosting activities. As you achieve each career milestone, a sense of accomplishment fuels further motivation and activity. This in turn leads to greater levels of commitment in one's career. Potential employers can sense highly motivated and engaged individuals. Seeing that you have set yourself career goals and achieved them makes you more desirable in their eyes. If you choose self-employment or having your own business along the way, being motivated is an essential trait to succeed. Taking control of your career also enables you to steer yourself in a direction that will enable a more rewarding and fulfilling work life. The more reward you create for yourself, the more you feel energised and engaged.
Conclusion
Clarity in your career goals allows you to build a strong foundation within your chosen industry, overcome obstacles with resilience, and continuously develop your skills to stay relevant. It empowers you take control of your professional journey, leading to a more rewarding and fulfilling work life.
Ultimately, the clarity you gain today can shape the success and satisfaction you experience in your career tomorrow.
Embrace the journey, stay adaptable, and keep your vision in sight - your future self will thank you.
At ELE Hub, we are here to support you with your career and employability. Attend our upcoming event ‘Help for Career Changers’ where you will have the opportunity to ask top experts your questions and connect to practical experience opportunities.
