January 15, 2014
Career #Selfie: How to Take Assessment of Your Professional Goals
Originally Published Jan. 15, 2014
Everyone loves a good selfie.
Who needs someone to hold the camera for you when taking your own photo is so simple?
As addictive as they are, physical selfies aren’t the only “pictures†young professionals should be taking. For future business leaders, performing a self-assessment of your career goals is vital to your success. By taking a snapshot of your current professional situation and comparing it to your ideal career, you are able to make adjustments where needed if the comparison is not on target.
Not sure where to begin with your career selfie? The following 3 questions will help you analyze your current position and provide insight that will reveal if you and your career are on the right path:
Are you happy? Do you find yourself unable to sleep at night because you’re excited about what the next workday will bring, or do you miserably count down the time as soon as you arrive in the morning? Your happiness is most important when deciding what profession you pursue, and it should never be up for negotiation. If you aren’t thrilled about the work you’re doing, it may be time to explore other opportunities. Spending 40 hours of your week working in a field that you don’t enjoy is not cool. Instead, you should use that time to maximize your full potential and do something you love.
Does the company culture fit your personality? Choosing a place of employment is similar to deciding who you date. Much like the qualities of a person, it’s always best to select a company that embodies the values, beliefs and habits that align with your thinking. If you love sharing your ideas with others, focus on places that foster a collaborative environment. If you are a creative person, the last place you want to be is at a conservative organization that always sticks to the same processes and rejects out-of-the-box ideas.
Are you being challenged? Just like the exercise motto “no pain, no gainâ€, if you aren’t pushing your skillset past its comfort level, you are minimizing your shot at bigger and better opportunities. Always make sure you are consistently expanding your knowledge. In today’s professional world, and many thanks to Google, there is nothing that can’t be learned.
Over time, career selfies are a great way to gauge your evolution of style and age. Similarly, you should regularly do a snapshot of your career to see how it is evolving.
Jaimee Ratliff (@WhatJaiSays) is a nationally published resource on career and life development. A communications professional who is addicted to hashtags and skymiles, Jaimee strives to encourage young professionals to maximize their personal brand while energizing their personal passions. When she is not dreaming up plans for her next international adventure, she can be found in Houston, Texas writing up a storm. Jaimee is also a freelance content creator for individuals and businesses. Her writing has appeared in Brazen Careerist (a Forbes top 100 career website), Chicago Tribune, Business Insider and Ragan Communications. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the illustrious Spelman College.