Set your career compass

A career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end and a direction for you to go from one to the other.

For many people, their current career direction is probably not entirely the result of their own choices.

If, for some reason, you are not happy with where your career is headed, there is a way out: Take charge of your career and change its direction.

Know yourself
Have you ever looked desperately for something, such as your keys, only to find it eventually in your pocket or drawer?

That's exactly the case with finding a new career direction. People usually try to search for a new career direction by looking at all the hot jobs, emerging fields, prestigious companies, a friend's career, what is safe and so on. Ironically, they fail to look for the answer where it actually lies - inside.

The secret of finding the right career direction is not to look without but within. Know yourself and you will automatically know the right direction for your career.

Most people define themselves in terms of what they write in their resumés. That is just the tip of the iceberg. To know yourself, dig deeper and uncover your strengths, personality, values and interests.

•Strengths
Your strength is what you do well at and enjoy doing. People admire strengths in top athletes, painters, writers, leaders but fail to ask themselves: "What is my strength?"

Strengths have a solid connection with a person's career. According to Peter Drucker, a person can only perform from his strengths and mediocrity is guaranteed if he fails to use them. So know what your strengths are and get into a career that allows you to use your strengths to the maximum.

Discover your strengths by asking: What am I good at and enjoy doing? What makes me feel energised? What comes naturally and easily to me?

•Personality
Personality is the sum total of a person's behavioural, temperamental and emotional traits. For example, some people are extroverts and enjoy meeting other people. But others are introverts and feel more comfortable when left alone.

Studies show a direct link between a person's personality and his career. If you are an extrovert, you would perform well in sales, marketing and public relations. But an introvert would be better off in roles that do not require any public dealings.

•Values
Values are what you consider important and hold in high regard. Values differ from person to person and can involve a range of things like money, prestige and power to more subtle things like respect, harmony and independence.

Your values hint at the kind of work that will suit you. For example, if you value "achievement", you would perform well whenever you face challenges. Then, there are those who may value "helping others" and would therefore do well in jobs that provide an opportunity to serve others.

To know your values, ask yourself what is important to you, make a list and prioritise the items.

•Interests
Should you pursue work that only interests you? Why not? History is full of examples of people who pursued their interests and became great achievers.

Mr Akio Morita avoided joining his family business of sake brewing to pursue his interest: An electronics start-up. He founded Sony. Doing the work that interests you can have a lasting impact on your career. To uncover your interests, find out what fascinates you and draws your attention.

Knowing what your strengths, personality, values and interests are is like having a compass with its needle pointing towards the right direction for your career.

Copyright © Atul Mathur, 2004
This article first appeared in The Straits Times on 29 October 2004.

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