Designing Your Ideal Career

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Carla McNamara, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.

Are you in a career transition? Trying to determine what you want to be when you grow up? Wanting to create a business that is successful? Desiring to integrate personal values with your work life?

If you are like most people involved in the process of career or life transition, you know that it can be a challenging, even daunting task trying to sort out all the issues and concerns. You may have even asked yourself, is there any way I can discover a career that is really right for me?

Often we hold limiting beliefs about what we can or cannot do. These beliefs get in the way of our ability to create our career/life the way we really want. For example, we may hold the belief that we will never be able to make enough money doing what we really love, or we worry about what others will say. As a result, we give up before we even get started. Instead, we end up in a career that is not very satisfying, never reaching the level of success and fulfillment we truly want and deserve. So, how can you become clear about what you truly want to do and then take the necessary steps to create your ideal career path?

The first step is to do a self-assessment of your skills, abilities, talents, values and passions. This can be accomplished by using any number of career assessment tools on the market. Some examples are; the Self-Directed Search (SDS) by John Holland, the Meyers and Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), or the Career Occupational Preference System (COPS), just to name a few. By taking these assessments, you will begin to understand what type of work you would be best suited for. For the best results, take at least three different assessments in order to have a more accurate reading of your personality type.

Another way to gain clarity is through storytelling, a method developed by Richard Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute? In this method you write a story about an accomplishment you are proud of. Once the story is written, look for the skills you used and write them down. Then tell your story to at least two more individuals and ask them to write down the skills you used. You will be surprised how many additional skills they come up with. That’s because when we are doing something we are not always aware of all the skills we are using.

The second step is to examine the fields you are most interested in. Start by making a list of all the fields/subjects you have learned something about either through school, volunteering, reading, workshops, on the job, hobbies or programs you have watched on TV or the Internet. Then go through your list and prioritize each item according to which ones you are most excited about.

Another helpful tool is the Occupational Network. O*NET, as it is referred to online, is the primary source of occupational information for the United States Department of Labor. Here you will find 23 job families or occupational fields with specific occupations listed for each field. You can find this information at www.onetonline.org.

The third step is to do a self-assessment of your preferred working conditions and work setting. Often times we overlook this very important factor when choosing a new job. Start by making a list of working conditions in your past and current jobs. On ones side put the working conditions that were helpful and supportive. On the other side make a list of working conditions that were not helpful or supportive. Then make a third list with additional things you feel would make your work setting even more supportive and enjoyable. Include things like location, company size, preferred co-workers, office setting and organizational culture.

The fourth step is to look at the bigger picture. What are you passionate about? What is your purpose or mission in life? In this step you will need to look a little deeper at your values and what you are most passionate about. Start by answering the following questions:

1. Where do you want to make a difference?
2. How would you like to be remembered?
3. If all your basic needs were met, what would you spend your time doing?
4. What excites you the most?
5. What goals have you given up on?
6. If you knew you couldn’t fail what would you attempt?
7. When are you the happiest?
8. What do the people you most admire do?
9. What might not be impossible?
10. If it weren’t for (fill-in-the-blank), what would you do?

We are all blessed with unique gifts and talents, and there are plenty of opportunities where we can make a difference. The key is to look at how our skills, talents, unique gifts and values align to create a career path that brings us joy and fulfillment.

Lastly, make sure you have the support you need to make the necessary changes in your career. No one has ever accomplished anything living in a vacuum. Recall times when you have watched someone receive an award, notice how many people they have to thank for their success. Family can be a great source of support, but often they hold limiting beliefs that can discourage you from sticking it out, causing you to give up when the going gets tough. People who are doing what you want to do are an excellent resource. They are people who have successfully made it, regardless of the odds against them or the discouraging words from well meaning family and friends.

Another great source of support is a Career Coach. A coach can offer you tools, support and structure to help you stay committed to the process, not giving up when things aren’t going well. A coach can help you uncover and discover limiting beliefs that are holding you back from creating your ideal career path. With the help of a coach, you can achieve success and fulfillment in a career that is an optimum expression of your interests, passions, values and skills.

Nothing significant happens in life without commitment. Your career is the place you spend the majority of your waking hours. Therefore, it deserves the careful attention that you will be devoting to it in this process. Making a commitment means that you trust the process and do whatever it takes to get the results you want.

Are you ready to discover what you truly love, what you really want to do with your life? Are you ready to live your life purposefully and passionately and experience the fulfillment you’ve always wanted? Then take the necessary steps to make your dreams come true.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

• Copyright 2014 by Carla Barrett. All rights reserved.