Career Reflection Tips

Take the time to jot down all of the tasks you performed in previous jobs.  For example, you may have compiled a weekly or monthly report showing your department workflow.  Write exactly what soft and hard skill sets you used to get that report completed.  Perhaps you used MS Word and Excel, compiled data from daily activity, extracted information from co-workers via e-mail or phone, designed a concise and easy to read format for management.  Or, perhaps you incorporated an analysis or forecast.  You may have developed several skill sets while doing this one task.

DO NOT rush this process.  The time you take to reflect on who you are and what you offer to the world can prove invaluable when planning your steps and ultimately creating the lifestyle you want. 

DO NOT leave out anything.  If it helps, get a brand new spiral notebook just for this process. 

DO NOT diminish your value.  If you were successful in your previous positions, then it is probably safe to assume that you brought some level of diligence, expertise and professionalism.

DO acknowledge your shortcomings.  Be honest with yourself and take this time to write down the areas that you should improve.  (i.e. attendance, being on time, appearance)

DO stay in contact with your peers so that you can maintain your connections.  Don't forget you may have to call on them for a reference.

DO gather memos, reports, employment evaluations, etc. to help you remember and build your employment portfolio.

Based on your reflection of your past, begin now to think about your present needs.  Ask yourself, how much do I need to live on today?  Make a list of where your money is going.  Are you paying for lots of premium channels from your cable provider, plus Netflix while still going on movie outings every month?   Are you venturing out to Starbucks several times a week and trying to convince yourself that it's okay because at least it's not five (5) times per week.  How much are you spending on groceries?  Are you looking at the area sale sheets and cutting coupons?  Track your spending and you'll undoubtedly discover more about yourself.  After you've written down just how much you need to live, subtract that from what you are actually spending during the month. 

Make a personal commitment to make smart decisions about your money.

Dream It, Plan It, Do It has been one of my motto's.  Take into account who you are and your uniqueness.  Dream about what a perfect day would look like.  What time would you get up in the morning?  What is the first thing you hear, see and smell?  Is it the sound of an ocean and seagulls or humming birds and the whistling of the wind in the trees?   Keep your eyes closed and take in your entire bedroom and imagine until it becomes real what every corner of your bedroom looks like.  Walk through your morning in your mind's eye and keep imagining this is your perfect day, your perfect life.  What are you contributing to the world today?  What line of work are you in?  Do you work from home, head to an office, a museum, a construction site, park - just what is the perfect day like for you?  Keep moving through your perfect day as you and feel all of the people you come in contact with, imagine the meals you eat that day and feel the satisfaction of living and doing the activities that reflect who you really are. 

Now that you've lived that perfect day and you've seen yourself in the perfect line of work.  Write it Down!  Research the skills for that job.   Take a look at the notes you already have detailing the vast experience and expertise you already have.  Here's where you start playing the matching game.  Extract the skills sets that you already have and match them to the skill sets of your perfect career job.  Match the skill sets side by side so you can see it at a glance.  You'll start to see some very common transferrable skill sets.  (i.e., communication, attending to detail, meeting goals, etc.)

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