The Career Raven Weekly- Finding Your Why
Hello, Career Raven Coven!
Welcome to the very first edition of The Career Raven Weekly! I’m excited to have you on this journey where we dive deep into the real, gritty stuff about job searching, promotions, and navigating corporate life.
This week, we’re starting with something fundamental: Understanding Your Why. If you’ve ever felt lost or unmotivated in your job search, you might not have a clear understanding of your “why” yet. But don't worry – we’re going to fix that.
Why Your "Why" Matters
Before you start applying to jobs or even updating your resume, you need to answer this one key question: Why do you want to make a change? Whether it’s for personal growth, a new challenge, better work-life balance, or to escape a toxic environment, understanding your "why" is your anchor throughout the entire job search process. This clarity helps you stay focused, make better decisions, and ultimately find a role that aligns with your values and goals.
How to Find Your "Why"
Here’s how you can dig deeper and find your true “why”:
Self-Reflection: Take some time to reflect on your past roles. What have you loved? What have you hated? This will give you insight into what matters most to you.
Identify Your Values: List your top 5 professional values. This could be anything from innovation, collaboration, leadership opportunities, or flexible working conditions.
Consider Your Long-Term Goals: Think about where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. What does your career look like in the future, and how does your next role fit into that vision?
Ask Yourself the Hard Questions: Do you want a promotion because you want more responsibility, or because you think you “should” have it? Getting clear on this will help you avoid choosing roles just for the title or pay.
Action Steps:
Grab a notebook or open a new document and write down the following:
What do I want from my next role?
What am I seeking in a work environment?
How do my values align with my career goals?
Write a mission statement for your career. Be specific, but also allow room for growth.
This Week's Challenge:
This week, I challenge you to spend 20 minutes reflecting on your career. Write down your “why” and keep it in a place where you can refer back to it as you progress in your job search. This will act as your North Star, helping you make better, more focused decisions.
Need Help?
If you’re struggling to articulate your "why" or feeling stuck, don’t hesitate to reach out. I offer personalized coaching sessions to help you gain clarity and build your action plan.
Coming Next Week:
Next week, we’re diving into how to revamp your resume to make sure it stands out to recruiters. We’ll break down key strategies, top resume mistakes to avoid, and how to showcase your skills effectively. You won’t want to miss it!
Stay tuned and keep soaring!
With Empowerment and Strategy,
Jen DeLorenzo
Career Coach & Reverse Recruiter
