Figuring Out My Career Passion

  I've been out of the paid workforce for several years to raise my kids. Now that I'm ready to go back to work, I want to figure out what my career "passion" is, but it seems so hard to make the time to think about anything of this magnitude. Any advice on how to get started easily?

Your experience of feeling challenged to set aside time and to find the mental space for investigating your next career move is not uncommon. Clients often tell me in our first session how daunting and time-consuming it seems to think about and put energy into a career change. This is a natural reaction, particularly when one has been working without monetary remuneration to attend to family needs; our culture often separates this type of experience from the concept of "career."

The good news is that there are, indeed, various small, simple steps you can take right away to help you create the time and space for yourself to assess what's important to you and discover how all that relates to the virtually limitless career options in the world.

Choose from one of the five ideas below to jump-start your self-discovery and career exploration process:
1.    Use whatever small bits of alone time you already have to think about the sort of work that would really light you up inside. Write down 3 burning questions, the answers to which you believe would help you move forward in your career decision-making process. Then, allow yourself to be with these inquiries during a walk or workout, while washing dishes or folding laundry, or any other time when you can (safely!) attend to your question and do something else.  For example, you might ask yourself, "What are some of the most fulfilling things I've ever done? What do they suggest I would enjoy doing next?" Or, maybe you have an inkling of a career direction you'd like to take but need to flesh it out by asking, "In what sort of environment do I see myself performing day-to-day work tasks? Who am I working with? What service or product do we provide?" Any question that seems important to you is fair game! Let yourself ponder the inquiry without pushing for an answer – it's when freedom and ease are present that answers often arrive.
2.    Consider the types of organizations you regard highly and make a list of at least 5 of them. Then, begin thinking about why they appeal to you. What do you value about the service or product they provide? Are there any divisions of the organizations that you can imagine wanting to be part of?  Even if you don't yet know what skill set you'd have to offer the employer, investigating such workplaces often leads to "Aha's." Think about people who work for any of the places on your list and then look into contacting them to conduct informational interviews.
3.    Sign up for a class or join a group focused on a topic - any topic - you'd like to learn more about. Whether it's photography, para-gliding, or Papua-New Guinean history, getting excited about something is often just the wake-up that you need to also focus on a career change or adjustment. You might be surprised, as well, by what sorts of career options start to look possible when you're learning compelling subject matter and meeting other people who share your interest. If it seems difficult to make the time for this, consider what other commitments you could temporarily suspend or rearrange to create room for your own development and growth.
4.    Set up weekly calls, emails, or meetings with a friend with whom you can brainstorm career ideas, create goals and accountability, and receive and offer support (especially when things look bleak or you're just feeling stuck). Having a compatriot onboard with you can be just the continual motivation you need to get into action and keep on moving.
5.    Get in touch with a career coach to conduct some self-assessment (fancy terminology for looking at your interests, values, skills, and personality preferences) to help you clarify in which career direction you'd like to head. Just one hour per week for a number of sessions can help you to identify what motivates and excites you in the world of work. This self-knowledge then allows you to generate inspiring and realistic career options which integrate various work aspects that are important to you. In addition, this type of support can ratchet up your level of commitment to honoring your vision of career/life balance, provide you with new perspectives, and increase your confidence to pursue whatever livelihood calls to you.
There are many ways to get the career ball rolling; these suggestions are but a few. My experience, based on years of seeing clients through similar transitions, is that small changes often yield big results.  Devote your thoughts and actions to your career planning for just 15 minutes to an hour each week, and you may be surprised by how much you discover about yourself and your ability to discern where to go next and how to get there.

By:  Alexandra Jenkins, M.A., Alexandra@youronramp.com