And perhaps it is. We can’t always predict where our choices will take us or what kind of career ladder will materialize as soon as we start climbing it. Sometimes concentrating on predetermined objectives or long-term plans is useless. If you focus too far in front of you, you won’t see the shiny thing out of the corner of your eye, as comedian Tim Minchin said in one of his occasional addresses.
Your next step | Rachel Smets | TEDxDelftSalon
Why is it important to decide what to do next?
Making a decision about your next career move is crucial because it will enable you to plan what skills to acquire and identify the short-term objectives that will help you advance to the next stage of your career. Knowing what you want to do after this can inspire you to advance your career. You can use your choice to investigate options for enhancing your knowledge through post-secondary education, such as college degrees, credentials, or career training. Additionally, you can expand your network and form connections with mentors in your new field.
How to decide what comes next in your career
The following steps will help you decide what to do next:
1. Determine your ideal work environment
By considering the type of environment you’d like to work in, you can determine what your career’s next move might be. You can decide whether you would rather work from home, in an office, a retail setting, a lab, the field, or a combination of these places. Knowing what kind of work you enjoy doing and how the environment affects your productivity, job satisfaction, and work can help you determine your ideal work environment.
Additionally, think about the corporate cultures you would prefer to work in. Corporate cultures are the moral principles, values, and organizational frameworks that businesses use to direct their daily operations, financial decisions, and employee relations. The company’s mission statement, vision, and core values, as well as how the business is structured, are examples of corporate cultures.
2. Consider what you like to do at work
If you want to know what to do next, consider what you like about your current and past work. You can compile a list of the activities and encounters you had fun with at work, then use that list to find a position that emphasizes those qualities. You can also make a list of the aspects of your work that you don’t like. When considering your next steps, this can help you comprehend what you should avoid. Consider inventory management, logistics, or merchandising if, for instance, you have experience in retail and enjoyed keeping track of and displaying inventory but would prefer a job that doesn’t involve working with customers.
3. Find a connection between your skills and values
Examining your skills and how you can use them in alignment with your values is one way to decide on a meaningful next step in your career. Your values are those characteristics and actions that you find significant and inspiring. You can make a list of your values and skills to determine what types of jobs, fields, or careers use both of them.
Additionally, you can use your values to find businesses or sectors in which you want to work. You can then employ your skills to help you find jobs in those fields, industries, or businesses. Your values and skills can also aid in determining which jobs, businesses, or careers aren’t a good fit for you, allowing you to concentrate your efforts on those that are.
4. Think of skills you would like to learn
You can look into the skills you want to acquire when deciding what you want to do next in your career. Among these are pastimes you want to start, skills connected to ones you already have, or completely new categories of skills. You can research the jobs or industries that employ these skills to determine which ones you might be interested in pursuing.
5. Ask others about their career experience
By asking others about their experience, you can discover a lot about a profession. They can provide information on the day-to-day operations of the industry or particular position and provide understanding of the prerequisites, potential for advancement, and related organizations. You can also prepare for potential difficulties in achieving your goals by asking people about their professional experience.
When choosing who to ask about their experience, you might want to go with subject-matter experts. To learn more about the different job types that are available and the expected job requirements, get in touch with recruiters or career counselors. You can consult your friends to see if their professions are a good fit for you. Additionally, you can go to workshops and networking events to meet others in the sector.
6. Set a five-year goal
You can find direction in your work by setting a five-year goal. You can choose a mid-term objective whether you are switching careers or advancing in the industry you are already in. A five-year goal is close enough to be reachable but far enough away to allow for changes as they become necessary. By setting a five-year goal, you can have enough time to change careers or acquire the knowledge, credentials, and connections you need to advance in your current career.
7. Create a roadmap
You can begin making plans for how to achieve your five-year goal once you’ve decided what it is. Based on the credentials, abilities, and experience required for your upcoming career stage, you can create a roadmap. You can earn certifications and degrees to build your credentials. You can increase your skill set for your objective by participating in workshops and tutorials. To assist in a career transition, you can also budget for interim employment and increase your savings. You can also take advantage of networking and mentoring opportunities to meet people who can assist you in achieving your goals.
FAQ
What should I do in life next?
- Take Time Out. If you’re unsure of what to do, the best course of action is to do nothing.
- Feel Your Emotions. …
- Explore Your Passions. …
- Take Inspired Action. …
- Let Go Of The Outcome.
When you dont know what to do next?
- Take it easy on yourself. Not having all the answers won’t lead you to have an epiphany about what to do.
- Accept Discomfort. …
- Realize you aren’t alone. …
- Go with the flow. …
- Stop procrastinating. …
- Ask yourself the right questions. …
- Help someone out. …
- Socialize.
How do I get more out of life?
- Be present. People frequently use the phrase “live in the moment” because it is crucial.
- Be grateful. Self-reflection is essential if you want to truly maximize your life.
- Exercise. …
- Eat well. …
- Become a morning person. …
- 10 years time. …
- Be kind. …
- Set yourself a challenge and stick to it.
How do you answer the question what do you want out of life?
- I simply want to make the most of the opportunities that have been presented to me. To become the best version of myself.
- I just want to be happy in my life. Although it’s a straightforward definition, it covers a lot of ground.
