Questions to Ask Yourself at Every Stage of Your Career
As you go about your day to day, it’s easy to put off important questions about your career – what you really want to do, how you get there – as you complete the tasks that need to be done now. And who wants to think about work in the few hours we have?
But getting lost in the day to day means you may miss the big picture and not make progress towards achieving your bigger goals. So here’s the sweet spot: On the next day of your personal inventory or your next life audit , take the time to answer the following questions, depending on where you are in your career.
First level
What do I want to be good at?
This is the “what are you passionate about?” except that it takes into account the income side of the equation. You have to work, and most likely your work will not immediately become your “passion”, but there is always room for growth. So figure out what you really want to excel at. As Allison Jones writes for Fast Company , “[you] need to think more specifically about your motives, needs, skills, and what you are willing to do — or refuse — to find this great opportunity.”
Then ask how the company you work for (or plan to work for) will help you grow. Katie Burke of HubSpot for Fast Company writes , “How does the team you will be working on plan to grow over the next year, and what are the growth prospects for the broader company?”
What skills do I need to succeed in this?
Once you decide what you want to do in your career, ask yourself what skills you need to be successful. “Determining the skills we want to use and develop and the work we want to do takes time and experimentation, but it’s a much more practical way to get closer to what we really want from our job,” Jones writes.
Once you focus on the real skills you want to achieve, you can work on them and hopefully avoid some of the pointlessness and misguided goal that some of us feel early in our careers (also known as the quarter life crisis ).
What can I do to get the best seat possible?
When you’re a beginner, it doesn’t really matter what you accomplished in college or internship. It’s time to really show yourself and set yourself up for success. And if you start thinking about it early on, it will be easier to do. What resources does your company offer for lifelong learning? What networking opportunities can you take advantage of? Is there a manager you can invite for coffee that could be a possible mentor? Even if you have a bad first job (and who doesn’t), there are always things you can learn and people you can make a lasting impression on.
What role does work play in my life?
Jones says it’s okay if work is n’t your passion – it’s just a means to an end. So ask yourself what role you want him to play in your life. You certainly don’t need to understand this as an entry-level employee, but it’s a good question to think about before you move up the food chain or start a family. “Decide what kind of life you want and what role work will play in it,” says Jones.
Average level
Which tasks are inspiring and which ones are exhausting?
After working for a while, you’ll get a good idea of the types of tasks that energize you and those that drain you. Maybe you like to explore and combine power point presentations, but you hate meeting with clients. Maybe the opposite is true. In any case, if you capture something that you really like (or at least don’t mind), you can use that to communicate your progress.
Do I want to be a manager?
This plays a role in the first question, but deserves a separate note. It’s time to decide if you really want to be a manager and, if so, what you need to do. Also consider what sacrifices you will have to make in other areas of your life to make it work, if any? What kind of job will you give up? On the other hand, it’s perfectly normal not to be a manager. So be honest with yourself and what you want.
Am I moving up the career ladder the way I imagined?
Once you’ve decided that, you can think about where you are in your career and where you would like to be. Are you happy with your current trajectory? Is the path you are walking still the one you want? If so, great! If not, it’s time to re-calibrate. Here are some resources on how to do this: Write your bio or try this one-hour written exercise .
Does this career allow you to do what’s important?
Does your career give you enough money, time, and flexibility to do things in life that are more important than your job? It’s time to think about what is important to you and whether you need to make a little change in your life to focus on these things.
Senior level
How else can I grow?
Just because you are on top does not mean there is no room for improvement. Once you have proven yourself with the skills you set your sights on in the early days, you will have the opportunity to keep learning and growing, all at slightly lower stakes. So ask yourself if there is something you would like to excel at, or is there another attractive industry? Maybe you want to start your own business or do something new?
What legacy do I want to leave?
Later in your career, think about what you have done and how you have helped others. Have you been a mentor? Did you want to be? Think about your reputation and what you want to leave behind when you retire. It’s never too late to leave a lasting positive impression.