In the last post, we talked about the benefits of goal setting for job seekers. As a refresher, goal setting helps increase:
- Clarity
- Motivation
- Accountability
Today let’s talk about clarity, in particular clarity on your core values, strengths, competencies, limitations, lifestyle preferences and long-term career goals. Without having a strong sense of self-awareness, you are taking a gamble on finding a job where you can be happy and successful in the long run. So, don’t waste your or the employer’s time by chasing a job that is not a good fit for you!
Gain self-awareness by asking yourself some exploratory questions (no one is listening to your answers but yourself, so be honest). Get yourself started with the questions below:
To get clarity on your core values, ask yourself:
- What makes me happy?
- What experiences make me satisfied?
- What has been my proudest moment?
- What are the top 3 values that make me feel happy, satisfied and/or proud?
An example of my core value is Passion. I feel most proud and satisfied when I am working on my passion project and talking to the world about it.
Use the Personal Values Worksheet to determine your core values. Download here!
To get clarity on your strengths and limitations, ask yourself:
- What are colleagues/friends always complimenting me on?
- What skills come naturally to me?
- What do people come to me for help with?
- What tasks do I dread doing?
- What skills would I love to learn or further develop?
An example of my top strengths is Initiative, and development area is Paying attention to detail.
Use the Skills Assessment Worksheet to know your top 5 strengths and top 5 development areas in under 10 minutes. Download here!
Understand your lifestyle preferences. Ask yourself:
- If I prefer a desk job or a field job?
- Am I geographically mobile?
- How important is flexibility of working hours to me?
- How important is money vs job satisfaction for me?
- Are there other special needs that affect my schedule? For example, military duty.
Finally, understand what are your career aspirations. Ask yourself:
- Where do I see myself 10 years from now?
- What kind of skills will help me achieve that long-term career goal?
- What else is important to me in a job?
So gain self-awareness and ensure that your career is starting on the right footing!
In the next post in this series, we will learn about how to create a plan to stay on top of the networking game, not just during the recruiting season, but throughout the year. Stay tuned!
Today’s challenge: Use the Skills Assessment Worksheet to find your top 5 strengths.
What do you do to gain self-awareness?
Resources shared today:
- Personal Values Worksheet
- Skills Assessment Worksheet