Find Your Passion – Essential Questions to Ask About Your Career
There has been a lot written on employee relations: how to hire and keep outstanding people, how to ask for a raise, how to create a work-life balance through self-care, etc. There are several approaches to the subject matter, and these are all significant themes. But at the core of nearly all employment-related issues is one question: Is the employee satisfied?
Since professional satisfaction has varied meanings to different people, it is one of the most individualized themes. Some individuals simply do not give a damn about their financial situation as long as they are free to live their lives without the constraints of typical work. Some people are particularly concerned with how much money they can make and save in order to achieve their financial objectives.
While some people choose to work remotely, others enjoy traveling for work. Others, despite receiving income, want to engage in activities they find enjoyable and want to feel like they are making a difference. There are countless such instances of how individuals define professional satisfaction. Therefore, not everyone can fit under a single definition.
It’s important to focus on the questions to ask in order to develop your own unique definition of professional satisfaction rather than trying to come up with a general one.
To get you started, consider these five inquiries:
What activities do you genuinely enjoy?
Consider this query from a broad professional standpoint. Do you enjoy socializing frequently? Do you enjoy being imaginative? Do you enjoy following a schedule? Do you enjoy working in a group setting? Are you fond of networking? Do you favor being in charge or being on your own? Do you prefer working from home or around other people? Make a list of at least 15 professional activities that you enjoy.
What qualities do you have?
Do you excel at producing reports? Are you a pro at managing projects? Do you naturally inspire and lead others? Do you adore handling numbers? Do you work better with direction or are you self-motivated and self-directed? You seem to be a good presenter. Think broadly once more and identify at least 20 items.
Where do your professional interests and strengths overlap?
You’ll start to see some similarities between your strengths and your interests when you make the first two lists. You can start defining what makes you happy at this point. Any work position benefits when what you enjoy doing and what you are good at converge.
Employers benefit more from workers who do what they enjoy and are good at, while workers put in more effort and produce more when they are engaged in activities for which they have a natural affinity.
Does your present work environment allow you to combine your interests and strengths?
Many people enjoy their workplaces. They take pleasure in others around them. They also like the group as a whole. Simply put, they do not enjoy or find fulfillment in their daily work. Wanting a change of scenery, new challenges, and new obligations is very normal.
It’s likely that you are as knowledgeable about what you do, its importance, and the demands of your organization as, if not more knowledgeable than, the key decision-makers above you.
Additionally, there’s a good chance that your company would prefer to have you contributing to the fullest. Therefore, think about creating and presenting a new role for yourself that highlights your strengths.
What is a fantastic vertical move?
Even if you are unable to change your function at your current employer, taking the time to create a new role that combines your abilities and preferences will help you determine what other options you may want to explore. A lateral move is a term used in business to describe taking a similar job with a similar role and compensation somewhere else when someone changes jobs.
Moving to a position with greater responsibility and salary is referred to as a vertical move. Regardless of money, if you shift to a job that makes you happier, it counts as a vertical move. You’ll be more successful if you know what you want to do and what value you can add.