There are tons of resources available to lead the average person in the right direction when it comes to choosing a career path. There are assessments. Career fairs. Career Services at your alma mater. There are even business courses you can take that will give you a brief introduction to professions such as Marketing, Accounting, Administrative Services, and others. (psst…I know that because I took one many years ago. Several thousand dollars later, it confirmed Accounting was the way to go for me 😐) With the increased exposure to S.T.E.M. or S.T.E.A.M. career paths, students are getting exposure to potential career paths before graduating high school. But what about you? You are past high school. Probably past those first four years of college. As you assess 2023 and what you want out of 2024, you start to ponder the question “Am I in the right career?” Well, I have just a few tips here that will help you answer that question.
Get To Know You (Better). I’m 40 years old! I think I know Me well enough! Well, maybe. If you are like most of us, you decided on a career based on limited information that was available to you at a certain point in your life. Maybe your dream was to sit behind a desk all day. Or did you go to school, find a good job after graduation, and just keep going with that because it supports your lifestyle, without considering if this is what you want to do? Let’s think about that for a minute. If you could start all over, do you honestly believe you would be in the same place you are right now? Career-wise. Is your motivation for logging on every day because you have a responsibility to provide for your family? Was your profession chosen because your parents thought you needed a sensible job? What you wanted was never considered, so you have come to the belief that what you want doesn’t matter. Does any of this sound familiar? Spend some time with you and ask yourself “What would I do differently if I were allowed to do it all over again?”
Passion and Skill Set. While these are not the same, they are both very important. Your passion is what gets you out of bed in the morning. The thing you want to do if money is not a factor. Your skill set is what you are good at. It may not be something you like but can prove to be a lucrative income source. The two may align. Oftentimes, they do not. I love to talk. I am great at Math. How many “Chatty Cathy” accountants do you know? Not many, right? After 15 years in corporate America, and finally asking myself if I was truly doing what I loved, I was able to find a way to intermingle the two. I coach and develop high-performing accounting teams. As a result, I can use my expansive communication skills and help others while also working with an advanced skill set in accounting. This is how you want to look at your career path. How do I align my passion and my skills? Are either of these what I went to school for? If not, can I use my degree/skill set for my income and my passion for a side business until it can become my primary source of income? If choosing your skill set as your primary motivator, will this financially support you and your ability to learn more and earn more in this field? If following your passion, you must understand doing what you love does not mean it will be easy when trying to make it a thriving career. On average, you will spend about one-third of your life working. Wouldn’t want to look back on that time and feel like you spent it doing something you loved.
Your Goals and Values. These two are also quite different but should be aligned. Your goals are specific objectives that you set to achieve, typically within a specific timeframe. Your values are your principles and beliefs that guide your decision-making. If you value financial success, then it makes sense to have a goal to reach a high-income target within a set time. However, if you value helping others and volunteering your time, then having a high-income goal may be a bit of a stretch. That’s when you must decide if your values have become your passion and something you can do in addition to the career that will allow you to meet your goal. Makes sense? Another thing to consider when setting goals is your support system. If your goals and values are aligned then you will more than likely have the support of your family, friends, and community. People with like-minded values. It is possible that while you place a higher value on finances, your significant other does not. This is an important conversation to have so that all are aligned on the role each person plays in supporting each other and receiving support. When your goals and values are aligned, you can choose a career path that allows you to continue to grow and expand. You have peace of mind because you feel like you are working towards something while also staying true to who you are. There is no greater feeling.
There are many paths one can take to determine what will provide financial security, peace of mind, joy, growth, or whatever is important to you when deciding on your career. Are you motivated by money, your social impact, or being available for your family? Do your research. Do a keyword search on LinkedIn for some of the qualities your dream job has and reach out to others who are working in that field. Ask if they mind spending a few moments to answer some questions about their career path. Choose to speak with people at different levels within the field of interest if possible. Take advantage of college fairs, career day, college career-readiness services, or get a career coach if you have already started a career and are looking to make a change. Use your motivation to help you decide if what you desire can be a career or a hobby. Maybe you are starting to realize you might not be in the right career. And that’s okay too. Take the time to investigate what you want to do. What makes you happy? And find a coach or mentor to help you transition into that.
The Transform Tuesdays newsletter was created to help professionals navigate the world of corporate America by overcoming the hurdles hindering them from growing to the next level in their careers, including knowing their value, using their voice, and being authentic to themselves.
During her 15 years as a corporate accountant in PE-backed and privately-held organizations, Sherrika Sanders progressed through various roles from Senior Biller to Corporate Controller. She worked to develop consolidated business processes, post-acquisition financial integration, and Fresh Start Accounting upon emergence from Chapter 11, within seven months of initial filing, and successfully managed teams of various sizes within the US, Canada, and Latin America. While her years as an accountant provided much growth, it was during this time that Sherrika learned to be seen and not heard. She was constantly reminded to be proud of being the only one in the room who looked like her (especially with her non-traditional education). Sherrika felt her voice was taken. After years of no work-life balance, taking work vacations based on the company's schedule, and being expected to always be available for the needs of the company, Sherrika decided enough was enough and started the transition to find and use her voice. Sherrika ultimately resigned from her role as Corporate Controller to take a leap of faith and start her own company, Transform the GAAP (Goals Assigned Achieving Purpose), where she specializes in helping professionals understand and overcome obstacles currently hindering them from excelling in their careers. Sherrika's passion is to equip professionals with the skills necessary to thrive in any setting. If you are seeking one-on-one or group coaching, click on the following link for a complimentary consultation to learn how you can work with Sherrika to Transform the GAAP together. Sherrika believes in a judgment-free zone where all are contributors working towards a common goal. Visit https://www.transformthegaap.com/ to learn more.
Comments