Clarity, courage, honesty, intention, and focus are all critical to your success. Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way.
#1. Gain clarity on your path.
This may sound obvious, but for most of us, this is the most difficult part. There are so many reasons why we don’t want to speak out loud the things that we REALLY want from our work. Sometimes we’re suspicious of our own instincts, or not convinced that what we do want is actually the best thing for us. Or we’re afraid that what we want is unrealistic, or impossible to get. Whatever the reason, before you can get the thing you want, you must gain clarity on what that thing is.
If you’re stuck, consider these clarifying questions:
- What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
- Imagine the world was ending and you had 6 months left. What would you do?
- If you had a magic wand, what would you choose in this situation?
- You get to hit an ‘undo’ button after 24 hours. How would you spend your time now?
Pay close attention to the answers you come back with. What are the themes and similarities in your answers – and what can you learn from them?
#2. Map it out.
Once you have clarity on what your ideal next step is, you know what the finish line looks like. Now you can begin to map out the road to get there. Imagine the following:
- On one side of the path to your dream job are the considerations that you can control. This could be things like schedule limitations, values, and considerations like workplace culture.
- On the other side of the path are the things that are outside of your control – things like job requirements, certifications, etc.
- Write all of the considerations and obstacles that are along the path and see what opens up for you.
#3. Be honest (with yourself).
If the Map it Out exercise reveals some serious roadblocks (i.e.: additional schooling, years experience), be honest with yourself about what you will need to do to make it to the finish line. This truth will reveal itself to you eventually, but the sooner you are ready to see and address the issues that are standing in your way to getting what you want professionally, the better.
Before you invest in a lengthy and costly educational program, reach out to your network for differing perspectives and suggestions, and consider engaging a coach to help to determine how you can get what you want in a way that is sustainable and attainable.
#4. Use your network.
Think about others in your field who you respect. What can you learn from the path that they have taken?
Your past experience provides great resources to guide your way forward. This includes previous work experience, as well as former bosses, mentors, and colleagues. Reach out to them to share your plans and ask for their input and advice. Remember to be clear with yourself about where you’re at and what you want before you engage others. The key here is to be very intentional – and to use their time wisely.
#5. Focus on being the solution.
Once you have clarity on what you want, can clearly see the path to get there, and have rounded out your understanding of what you need to do to get the job, the next step is to understand who you would have to be in this role in order to be successful.
- What is the single most important thing a successful candidate would have to do well to be successful in this role?
- What characteristics, skills and experience would be ideal for someone in order for them to do this job really well?
From this new perspective, what do you see about your past experience and how you can best position yourself for this role? What are the things that may stand in your way – and what are the things you can do to address these barriers?
#6. Present the best version of you.
Be true to who you are, leveraging your unique strengths, skills, and past experience – but highlighting this in a way that will be relevant to what you want – and best position you for the job. Think of your resume and cover letter as a way for someone to see you as your best self. Use numbers, and data points as evidence to build your case and use your real estate wisely. Consider:
- What are three things about you that you want to be really clear in your application?
- How pronounced are those elements in your application?
- What would a stranger reading this application think about you as an applicant?
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