Career GPS: How a Clear Direction Guides Your Journey
Heading out into the job market without knowing where you want to go is like jumping in your car with your dead phone, no charger, and no map. Maybe you will end up in a good place or maybe you will end up on the opposite side of the country, out of gas and hungry.
Having a clear direction is your Google Map App. It will tell you the best roads to take to get to your destination faster. Having a clear direction will not only help you make better career decisions and increase your job satisfaction but it will also make developing your brand easier, have a stronger message, and increase your earning potential. Let me explain…
Make better career decisions
If you went onto LinkedIn jobs this morning and looked at all the jobs posted in the last 24 hours you would find 375,807 results. Now granted some of these might be similar but that is a whole lot of jobs to get lost in and without having a direction, you will only feel overwhelmed and lost by the choices.
But imagine knowing exactly where you want to go. You know the type of work, your top industries, and even some potential companies that align with your values. With that beautifully clear direction, you are better able to make decisions about what to apply for and how to progress your career. Each step you take is purposeful.
Increased Job Satisfaction
True fulfillment in a career stems from more than just a paycheck—it derives from a sense of purpose and alignment with your values. And when your career direction aligns with your passions and beliefs, work transforms from an obligation to something you are excited about.
In order to achieve this, you need to know who you are, what your core values are, what lifestyle you want to lead, and what gives you that hell yeah feeling over the oh no feeling. Once you have these things defined you can find work that enriches your life and allows you to approach work with enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication.
Better Branding & Messaging
The reason most people come to me to help them build their brand is because they don’t know what to include. This is even harder if you don’t have a strong career direction.
Imagine this… You are mid-career. You have worked in restaurant management, retail, and most recently real estate. You are looking for a new job. You know you want to do something in tech but are lost as to what type of work. When you sit down to write your resume, it ends up being all over the place. It’s either generic or confusing. Either way, you struggle in your job search.
Now imagine that know exactly what type of work you want to do. You can pull all the relevant skills, stories, and strengths from your past and highlight them to show that you are qualified for that type of work. Now your brand is clear & concise and you can clearly articulate what you can bring into the role based upon your past experiences leading to multiple job offers.
Greater Earning Potential
While loving what you do is invaluable, let’s not overlook the practical aspect: having a strong career direction can also translate into greater earning potential. Imagine being able to make $10K, $20K, or even $30k more because you can focus on value and impact which employers recognize and are willing to invest in your talents. Moreover, as you continue to grow within your career, better jobs and more money follow.
My friend, having a clear direction on where you want to go in your career is everything. Once you have that magical map, it’s like an open highway stretched in front of you. To help you know exactly what you want to do and where based on who you truly authentically are, I invite you to check out my Career Clarity Roadmap. A guided map to help you find the right job for you!