Self-coaching tool: Career Review

This blog was originally written by Alex Kollo for www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com with contributions from the Workplace Strategies for Mental Health Team.

If you’re feeling lackluster, stuck or like you’re searching for more meaning and purpose in your job or career, it can be helpful to take some time to intentionally reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re at. You may find it helps you think more clearly about what’s next.

Use the prompts below to help you reflect — printing this page and writing out your answers could help.

If you’re feeling disengaged or stuck, start by considering…

• What value or values do you bring to your work?

• What kinds of things do you enjoy doing?

• Where do you find the flow that deepens your feelings of engagement and fulfilment?

• What are the conditions that allow you to be at your best?

Is there something emerging that might help you enjoy your work more in the future?

If you’re feeling uncertain about your career and not sure about what might be next, it can help to take a step back to remember how far you’ve come, what you’ve learned, and the strengths you’ve developed. This can help to bring clarity in thinking about what might be next (or even a ways off in the future).

1. What’s your work history, beginning with your first job? (You might need a second sheet for this one!)

2. What skills have you developed over your work history? (Think about practical skills like using a particular software or tools, soft skills like communication or working in diverse or dispersed teams, or things like strategic planning, managing change, etc.. List them all — and don’t sell yourself short.)

3. What are your greatest professional successes or accomplishments?

4. What were the greatest challenges you faced at work? How did these help you grow as an individual? (It can be helpful to think about the advice you might give to a colleague facing a similar challenge.)

5. What lessons or strategies have you learned from juggling work-life demands or life transitions during your career? (Think about any hidden talents or strengths you’ve developed in your personal life that you might also be able to apply at work. For example, managing stress and family demands, going through big changes like marriage, separation, divorce or a child leaving home)

6. What were you working on when you most enjoyed work? (Think about who you were working with, the type of work you were doing and the work environment.)

7. What are the characteristics of co-workers with whom you most enjoyed working? (Think about their personality types and communication styles, and how this might have impacted the dynamics within the team.)

8. What are the characteristics of the leaders with whom you most enjoyed working? (Think about things you can learn about who you’d like to work with or for, or how you’d like to show up as a leader yourself.)

9. What would you like to achieve in your career over the next 1 to 3 years?

10. How can you move towards your career goals? (Think about what you’d need to learn and who can help you to get there.)

Want to talk it through? I’m here for you!

Get in touch for a free 30 minute discovery call at alex@alexkollo.com ♡