16. Clarify Your Career Direction in 15 Minutes

    Struggling to find your next career move? Praying about it but don’t see the answer beaming down from heaven (Would’t that be amazing)? That’s ok! God’s guidance comes in many ways, and often, it’s in the action we take that we see His hand. Here are the 3 simple and practical steps you can focus on this week to gain clarity on your career direction - more detail is in this week’s podcast episode!   Reflect on your past experience (start with work, but include personal experience too). What positions did you enjoy most? Least? What exactly did you like/dislike about them? What like/dislike patterns do you see across your positions? In light of this…what do you think God might be preparing you for? There is no right/wrong answer here, just consider the possibilities.   Identify your needs and wants What are your needs for the salary, location, time commitment, etc.? Needs are “make or break” requirements, so be careful not to mix wants and needs. Once you have your needs list completed, start looking at wants. This is now your wishlist. It can be as big or small as you’d like and can encompass really anything. Your wants list is negotiable, your needs list is not.   Then, build on your natural interests Look at both big picture interests (faith, technology, art, etc) but pay even closer attention to task and project oriented interests (talking with people, solving short term problems, decorating a room, etc.) Look at your past experience from #1 above (what you liked/disliked) to identify interests but go beyond this list. Ask yourself: When do I get so focused I loose track of time? What accomplishments am I most proud of? What activities would I want to volunteer for?   We are all habitual creatures, and even when we can’t see patterns in our behaviors, the patterns are there. Discover some of your natural career patterns with the three items above. During this process, ask The Lord to bring you clarity & peace, and to guide your path as you engage in these practical activities. He cares about even the smallest parts of your life…and your career, where you spend most of your life, is one of the most important ways that God uses you.    Downloadable Resources: Career Transition Blueprint: a checklist to cut the stress and simplify your career leap