Your experiences offer valuable information as you build out your career life
Do any of the following statements resonate with you?
- “That one summer job I had was the best work experience to date. But that is not a career.”
- “I love this one hobby I have, I get to express my creative side. But that is not a career.”
- “I really connect with the volunteer work I do. It encompasses everything I value. But you can’t make a career out of that.”
These experiences may not be a direct bridge to specific employment but when you reflect on the varied experiences of your life, you gather valuable information about yourself, the world around you, your abilities, the development of your unique skills, the focus and/or expansion of your interests, your attitudes and aspirations.
Why was that one summer job so fulfilling? What stood out for you? What did you notice about your natural skills or how you approached the tasks and responsibilities you were given?
How does it feel to express your creative side? Again, what do you notice about your natural skills, how you engage with that hobby, your focus and dedication?
In what ways does that volunteer position align with your values? What do you notice about your commitment and contribution when you are engaged in a job, task, or activity that aligns with your values?
Let’s look at that “one summer job” more closely
On reflection, you may discover that it was because of the relationships you confidently built with team members or colleagues. You may realize how energized and well-suited you were to working outdoors or working with your hands. You may realize how engaged you were because the work felt inspiring. Maybe you were given certain tasks or responsibilities and discovered you were quite good at them. Or the role gave you autonomy and room to be creative, both of which you realized enriched your experience. Perhaps you came to that job with an openness to learn, a willingness to jump in, and a strong work ethic, and because of this attitude, you received positive feedback and encouragement.
Reflecting on your experiences offers a wealth of information that can help you recognize, define – and redefine – what motivates and energizes you, what engages and inspires you, and what deepens your sense of commitment.
Each experience you have also gives you some insight into what is happening in the community or even the world around you. Each experience provides perspective on different services in a community and the needs of that community. Each experience reveals information about how workplaces or organizations are structured and function, and about different work roles. You meet others, collaborate with others, and learn from their experiences. All this information will generate ideas and possibilities that can help you structure good questions, organize further research or informational meetings, or identify specific areas you may want to pursue to gain training, education, or experience.
Take a moment. Reflect on your experiences. Write out your reflections and insights. Now that you have started gathering this reflective information, is there something that might help you design a small goal and take one small step forward?
Career Counselling can help at any stage of your career life. Contact [email protected] for more information or to book a consultation.
