Oftentimes, people start their job search or the interviewing process without having clarity on what exactly they are truly looking for.
If you are in this position, where the daunting question of: “what do really I want?” is lingering in your mind, then you are on the right path. This is about your career and you want to be clear about what you want.
So, before you start polishing your CV, applying for jobs, or preparing for job interviews - get honest with yourself about what it is that you are looking for and what is your dream career. Here are some questions and tips to get the ball rolling for you.
Start by honestly asking yourself these questions:
- What am I passionate about?
- What are some achievements or accomplishments I am the proudest of?
- What are my strengths and what are some of my potential areas of improvement?
- What motivates me? Is it the project, the team, the company culture? What are those specific elements I am looking for within a professional environment?
- When was I the happiest in my career?
- What do I want to develop and learn?
The answers to these questions will assist you in your journey of identifying possible industries, job positions, and companies you would like to pursue. They will also help you to get a better understanding of what you do not want to, which can bring a big breakthrough while applying to roles and interviewing.
Break down your goals
Nothing happens overnight. Achieving goals and maintaining progress can feel overwhelming or even impossible If you do not know where to start.
Begin by writing things down to create a simple action plan. Write down each of your bigger goals and then focus on each one individually. Try to break down each goal into smaller, more tangible actions. Then set up a timeframe or even a deadline for yourself.
Tracking your goals can create wonders for your productivity, let alone, the amazing satisfactory feeling of scratching things off your list.
Journal out your thoughts and ideas
Have you wondered why we sometimes feel overwhelmed? One reason - our mind comes up with 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day.
Journaling can be a very effective way to organize and reflect on these ideas.
Grab some paper and write down all those jobs that you have imagined yourself pursuing, even if some of them seem unachievable. Research what kind of requirements and experience you need. You might realize that you’re more qualified than you think.
Understanding what it is that you are looking for in your next career will help you describe your qualities better and with more confidence during the job search process - whether that’s in your CV or during an interview. You want to be clear and confident in what you can achieve before you reach an interview. This will create more valuable and open-hearted conversations with hiring managers and interviewers because they will be discovering your real ambitions and assess what are the things that they can help you with regarding your development.
There is no better feeling than aligning your goals and dreams with your career path. If you take some of the steps here, you’ll achieve clarity during your job search and hopefully an aligned career!
If you’re looking for support in getting clarity on your job search, Empower Amsterdam offers free coaching for unemployed international in the Netherlands. You can apply on our Contact Page.