Career development is a continuous process throughout our working lives. This process benefits from regular reflective practice to stay aware of how we experience work, our growth, how different work experiences shape our developing skills and overall value, our changing interests, shifts within professions, changes in the job market, and the influence that broader community and global issues have on our careers. These are just a few examples.
Reflective practice is important for everyone, from young adults starting their careers to experienced professionals contemplating career changes.
Reflective practice is more than just a habit or strategy; it enhances our creativity and imagination, opening up possibilities for us to be proactive in our career lives. Regular reflective practice is a vital part of career maintenance.
Try this career reflective exercise.
Creating a role
As you begin, start reflecting on:
- The different educational, volunteer, training, and work experiences you have had thus far.
- The different roles and responsibilities you have held.
- What you have learned, and areas you would like to explore further.
- The perspectives you have gained, along with the knowledge and wisdom you carry.
- Your aspirations or specific goals.
- What you may want to dedicate yourself to at this stage of your life.
- Your skills holistically: your innate abilities, the skills you have gained through different experiences, the skills that may be more prominent at this stage of your life, and the skills you may want to develop.
- Your evolving interests and issues in the world you are drawn to.
Consider this information, and include any additional reflections that may have arisen.
Now let your creativity and imagination soar as you craft a work role (the role does not have to exist currently).
As you start designing this role, be as detailed as possible and incorporate the information from your reflections. Here are some sample questions to help you begin:
What do you do day to day?
What is the field, profession, area, or subject matter you are involved in daily? Is this completely new to you, or does it resemble your past work experiences?
What are your responsibilities?
What are your specific contributions to the role?
How does this work make you feel? What personally feels significant, important, and/or meaningful about this role?
Where could this role take you? Does it open doors to other opportunities in the future? What might those future opportunities be?
Is the role connected to a personal interest, addresses a current global need or issue, or possibly a mix of these?
What is your work environment like? How does it feel to be there every day?
Where is your job located geographically?
How do you work – in person, remotely, or hybrid? Are you employed full-time, part-time, or on a contract?
Are you working in a team, independently, or doing both? Do you prefer one over the other? Why?
Is your work flexible and fast-paced, or is it more structured with specific tasks to complete each day?
What skills do you currently possess for this role? Are there additional skills or knowledge you will need to acquire for this position?
What unique perspectives, knowledge, and value do you bring to this role?
What experiences have you had that you could combine to assume this role?
Re-read your created role
What other reflections or questions arose? What surprised you?
Did you notice any specific themes? What caught your attention?
What information did your created role reveal about your current interests and or any issues in the world you are drawn to?
What did these reflections reveal about your motivation at this stage of your life?
What did they indicate about how you want to work moving forward and how you want to contribute?
Is there something tangible from this created role that you might like to pursue or gain experience in, such as training, volunteering, certification, a course of study, or direct work experience?
Is there a specific area or topic you would like to research further?
Are there people in these areas you might want to talk to or have an informational meeting with?
Is there something from this created role that could help you set a small goal and take one small step forward? What might that be?
Career Counselling can help at any stage of your career life. Start a conversation. Contact [email protected] for more information or to book a consultation.
