Work In Colour - Work. Think. Live. In Colour

Time to Question Your Career?

Tuesday 17th January 2012 | 4 comments

My last post for 2011 was a list of questions, and I can't resist the urge to bookend and make my first 2012 blog about questions, too.

It's because January is often a month for questioning your current job or career (especially if you find yourself near-hysterical at the thought of having to go back to work!).

If that's you, pay attention to the signals you are receiving from your mind and body. It's time to search for a better working life...

One of the essential elements of any search is curiosity, and curiosity means asking lots of questions.

Some questions will have immediate answers, and some will need to simmer on the back burner for awhile, and be taken out from time to time - often you will keep a question in mind for days or weeks before the answer 'pops into' your head. (Of course it doesn't pop into your head from nowhere, it is the result of all that reflection, of moving your attention into the right space.)

So, here are some questions to get you started - but the best questions will always be the ones that you come up with yourself, that are personal to your search for your ideal career.

Questions about the work environment:

• What are the essential elements of any work environment? What can't you do without?
• What can't you put up with, what are the real no-nos?
• Are you prepared to move cities for work?
• How do you feel about working in an office? Working outdoors? At home? Large or small company? New business or well-established? Working for yourself? Traveling for work? Opportunities for transfer to another division, or overseas?
• Do you want to work in the CBD, the suburbs, or the country?
• What style of workplace suits you? Are you interested in not-for-profit businesses? Or the chance for a corner office? Or a competitive environment? Stable and secure, or risky but exhilarating?
• How do you feel about open plan offices? Having lots of people around you? Quiet or loud workplace?
• Do you need to have fun at work?
• Do you like to work alone or in a team?

Questions about the work itself:

• What are the essential elements of any job? What can't you do without?
• What can't you put up with, what are the real no-nos?
• Do you like being supervised, or self-directed?
• Do you need a clear job description?
• What about opportunities to learn, develop skills?
• Promotion possibilities?
• Do you prefer a fast paced job, pressured, or slow and steady?
• How do you feel about having to make decisions?
• Do you need a lot of variety, or a steady uniformity?
• How many hours a week are you prepared to work?
• What about availability after hours? Weekend work?
• Is job security important?
• How much training/ obtaining educational qualifications are you prepared to do to get the job?
• Do you enjoy creative thinking, problem solving, generating new ideas?
• Do you like dealing with crises?
• Do you like working on commission?
• Do you want a portable career, one you can do in another city or country?

Questions about you:

• What are the essential elements of your personality, identity or values that must be let out to play at work?
• What are your core values?
• What about your ethics? Are there industries you could not work in?
• What are your beliefs about work and career? Are they really true?
• What are your talents, your strengths?
• What are your skills?
• Is status important to you?
• Do you need acknowledgement, praise, public recognition?
• What else is important in your life - family, hobbies, travel, friends, time out?
• What are your financial needs from work? Now? In 5 or 10 years?
• Do you intend to retire? If so, when?

What else is important?

What are the other questions you need to answer?

Good luck with your search - and if you are interested in our Escape Hatch individual career change program, let me know!

Tags: career, questions

Comments

1. Hi Joanna
   I've really enjoyed your last two blog posts. Both have got me reflecting, thinking, and now, planning. I'm setting aside some time to do some more vision mapping with your list of questions, some brightly coloured pens and a big dose of inspiration! Thanks and happy new year to you! Claire.

   Posted by Claire Scobie | Friday 20th January 2012 @ 4:17pm

2. Claire, thank you. I hope you get results from your vision mapping, it's a great technique...

   Posted by joanna B Maxwell | Friday 20th January 2012 @ 5:10pm

3. The two posts of introspective questions are great! Our church used the first (evaluation of 2011 vs hopes for 2012) as a basis for silent meditation during the New Years Day service. Most of the congregants were quite touched and moved by this challenge to be honest with oneself and thus form a basis for better days ahead.

   Posted by John Enders | Saturday 4th February 2012 @ 7:38am

4. I'm so pleased they were helpful, John. Nice one...

   Posted by joanna | Saturday 4th February 2012 @ 9:23am