What should be on my career list?
Dear Career Curator,
Your career list is an essential tool as you curate your career. Your list keeps you focused on what matters most to you. As you grow in your career and notice how expansive the possibilities truly are, it's easy to start desiring roles that are not aligned with your vision. Depending on your life circumstance, the trappings of a successful career may be enticing. You may find yourself wanting a nicer car, a bigger home, or fancy shoes. Not because those are things that even matter to you, but because they are the trinkets that society tells us are markers of success. While I'm always an advocate of doing what makes you happy, it's important to go deeper and understand whether or not your actions align with your vision. Being influenced by the world around you is much easier than you may think. While your list is uniquely yours, there are a few things that are important to consider while curating your career list.
Inspiration is a must when thinking about the work you want to do. Knowing what inspires you is a key driver of motivation. For some, this can be the right dollar amount. For others, inspiration may be found in the mission of the company you choose to work for. The beauty of creating your own career list is that it will reflect your thoughts and not anyone else's. The purpose of including inspiration in your list is to keep you motivated along your journey. If you're having difficulty thinking of what inspires you today, consider what motivates you. For many people, inspiration and motivation are not always the same, with most finding it easier to identify what motivates them. Inspiration can be layered, meaning there may be some surface layer things that inspire you, in addition to more meaningful things that go deeper. You get to determine the totality of what inspires you.
No matter where compensation falls on your list, it's important to include it. Compensation is a barometer for your career in many ways. It does not need to be directly tied to measuring success, but it should be tied to measuring happiness within your work. Over the course of your career you will find that there are jobs that paid you well, but zapped your life energy. While others paid you enough to meet your needs, yet you were excited to do that work each day. The reality is that as long as you are working for someone else, you need to be compensated for your time. There will never be a truly equal exchange for your time. You only get one life and every moment that passes you by is gone forever. When you think about it that way, it's much easier to make a choice that aligns with the life you want to live. Know your number based on your life needs, as this is always a great baseline. If money is a motivator for you, then go further by knowing what the market salary is for the work you are doing. Make sure you are paid fairly to honor your time. Be sure you closely evaluate benefits as well, because there are some benefits that may be more valuable to you than money. Flexibility of working hours or location are great examples of work benefits that may be more valuable to you.
Speaking of location, this is also a great point to have on your list. Is it really the job you've been waiting for if you have to move to a place that is completely removed from the people and places that bring you joy? Only you can make that call. Having a list of locations you would be excited to relocate to or willing to travel to frequently for work, will help you make decisions much quicker without the pressure and confusion of your emotions in the moment. Maybe you are completely unwilling to relocate and would prefer a role that is fully remote. It is helpful to list your work locations in order of preference. Keeping a short list of places that are absolute deal breakers is also useful.
Lastly, development is another point to add to your list. Your development points should include a combination of skills, experience, knowledge, and exposure. These points are helpful as a reference throughout your career. The list will evolve as you check off skills that you have developed along the way. It's also helpful when discussing your development with your line manager. They may ask what is next for you in your career and you will actually have an answer ready because you have prepared your career list. One benefit of working for an employer is your access to development. Every project or initiative you are asked to lead or contribute to, presents an opportunity for you to learn. What you learn can quickly evolve into a new skillset and potentially a new role.
Your list may have more categories, which will only make your decision making more solid and precise. It becomes much easier to say 'yes' to opportunities that you are prepared for. Review your list often to ensure it's still aligned with your life vision and your definition of success. Dream big and put in the work.
With encouragement,
Career Curator