
©MindManager Blog
Who else is struggling knowing how to advance their career? Are you struggling to find the right opportunities for growth and advancement? Do you find you are spinning your wheels in sand and worried your career is going nowhere? It’s time to blaze your own trail.
First, let’s clarify where you want to go. What is your aim? Where are you headed? Can you identify someone who is doing the very job you would like to do? Write the responses to these questions down . . . now. Get out of your head.
For some of you these answers will come easily. You know where you want to go but don’t know how to get there. Hang on – we’ll get back to you in a minute . . . but first, just make sure you scan the rest of this blog and have the career map clarified. The clearer the target the greater the chances of you hitting it. For others, you need that clarity. How can I map out a career?

©The Grossman Group
The photo at the heading of this blog of the mind map captures the areas of thought you need to process. You need to work through these six areas of thought and consider your capacities, interests and dreams. Let’s look at these six areas of thought:
- Interests: It’s always good to find yourself working in a field you enjoy. Work will feel less like work. There are heaps of tools these days to help you align your personal interests to a potential career. Just google how to identify career interests or career interest test free
- Skills: List the strengths and qualifications you can bring to the workplace. If you’re not sure of your strengths, try completing an Enneagram test. Consider your past work experiences. Ask your families and work colleagues what they see as your strengths.
- Values: This can be hard to define but useful in understanding yourself once it is done. Mind Tools have a useful tool for understanding your values at https://www.mindtools.com/a5eygum/what-are-your-values Look for the heading ‘Defining your values’ about of a third way down the page.
- Vision: Where do you see yourself? Who do you want to be? What is the movie you have in your head about your future? Dream.
- Goals: Now turn those dreams into goals . . . make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound.
- Education: What education do you need to pursue your chosen career. How can you invest in you? Don’t just launch into a course, select it carefully. Talk to others in the industry working in the job you’re seeking. What is the course that would give you the greatest edge into your chosen career?
OK – time for you to put this process in action. Go and find a quiet space and a good coffee. Map these 6 aspects out. Share your thoughts with your significant others. Try to narrow your focus.
Next week we’ll provide you some other clues as to how you can gain some career clarity . . . where you don’t have a clue!
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