When you don’t know what’s next in your career, it’s understandable to ask:

• What am I good at?
• What experience do I have that an employer might want?
• 
  

A trap lies in those questions. They ignore the possibility that you are good at things you don’t enjoy doing. This leads you down a trail of unrewarding, draining employment.

Here is the solution. Start your career transition with a solid career assessment. Take the time to think deeply about who you are and how that fits in the labor market. If you need a partner to help you, select a career coach. Whether you are early in your career, mid-career, or heading into retirement, you don’t want to settle. Make a solid choice.

One of my clients demonstrated how to focus on what you want, not what you can do. She is employed in a telecommunications company in a high-pressure sales role. She is very good at what she does and well paid—and miserable. She wakes up dreading her job every day.

We began by discussing her vision. She wants to slow down, find a better life balance, and be in a support role, not facing difficult and unpredictable customers. Her career assessment showed strong technical and mentoring skills. She is also drawn to meaningful work.

This inspired a round of informational interviews, during which she shared her vision and the activities that give her energy. She was pleased to find that one conversation led to another, helping her design the next step based on her aspirations, not her accumulated work experience. Her company is designing a new role that will fit her perfectly.



So often, you take jobs randomly, letting fate unfold. Before you know it, people see you in that role or field, and it can be hard to escape. Trust your gut. If you are not where you want to be, or don’t know where you are going, act. Your career is a central aspect of your health and happiness. Find the career that fulfills you!