Preparing While We Wait

When looking for purpose in our job or career, it’s important to remember why we took the job initially. Was it for quick income to sustain our way of life? Was it a referral from a friend or colleague and we didn’t want to say no? Was it because we went to school for the position and believe it could be our dream job? There are a number of reasons why we accept certain jobs, however, the reason(s) can determine how purposeful and fulfilled we are in that position. Our why is also connected to our passions, talents, and purpose. When these three aspects of our lives mesh together, that’s usually when we are most fulfilled and effective.

When looking for opportunities to advance in our current job or looking for a new career, it’s important to remember our “why” because our why can influence our preparation and work ethic while we wait. Working/Preparing while we wait for the opportunity or promotion we want, is vital to our success before and after we get promoted. Similar to a waiter or waitress, serving is a crucial aspect of our preparedness for a new career or business venture.

But who are we serving or waiting on? And what’s on the menu or our plates? Though metaphorical, we’re serving the market that we’re in and sharing what’s on our menu/plates (area of expertise, job duties, tasks, characteristics). Once we realize this, it can help us better understand and identify our next steps to advancing our career.

Creating a checklist can also give us a better perspective and insight on how well we’re prepared for a new job and if it aligns with our why. Does my preparation or skillset meet the requirements of the job? Does my current job or future career meet my why or aspirations? Granted we may need to take jobs that don’t check all the boxes when it comes to our why or aspirations, and that’s ok, for a season.

But once we identify what we really want to do regarding our career path, it’s time to take the necessary steps towards it. Here’s a preparatory checklist or questions that can help us identify our next steps in our career seeking journey (we have a downloadable checklist available at the end of this post).

1. Does this job or career meet my requirements regarding my why, aspirations, and career pathing?

2. Did I research the company, job duties, responsibilities, skills needed, and what it offers thoroughly?

3. Do I meet the requirements for this position? If no, what can I do to better prepare myself for this job/career? (some careers you’ll learn more on the job but still qualify for the position, don’t let that discourage you if you’re fully prepared).

4. Have I updated my resume to fit this job position?

5. Have I met the requirements of my current job, consistently meeting or exceeding my metric or performance goals?

6. Have I set myself/family up for success regarding transitioning to a new job or career? (financially, trajectory, and longevity all play a part in the answer).

Though self-reflective, asking ourselves these questions can show us if we’re fully prepared or still need to work on some areas before we advance in our career. We can still choose a career or job without checking all the boxes, however, if we take a job without being fully prepared, it can cause more stress than necessary. Remember, preparing while waiting for the opportunity we want, can better set us up for success and hopefully alleviate some of the pressure that comes with changing or advancing our careers. Keep rocking out the year! Download Career Preparation Checklist here!