How to have a useful career conversation...

…when you don’t know exactly what you want to do next.

Many of us dread being asked the question - where do you want to be in 5 years?

We simply can’t tell you the role we want to be in, or where we want to be. We don’t know.

And that’s absolutely fine.

Except… it can be really hard when other people know their answer, and it feels that we should too.

So, we default to the response we feel we ‘should’ give, or leave it wide open - neither of which feel right.

But there is a different way to have a useful career conversation.

Instead of trying to look forward and predict a future we can’t see, we can look back and gather the learning from where we’ve been.

It’s one of my absolutely favourite things to do with people who are trying to work out what’s next for them.

Often, simply looking back and reflecting on all the parts of the journey brings an awareness of just how much we know and can do. It can give us confidence in our ability, our strengths, and our experience.

Even better is when we use that information to identify the ingredients of the work that we thrive in. The type of role that brings out the best in us, where we can work in a way that works for us. It’s so helpful to know what we’re looking for, the brief for what’s next.

The cherry on top?

When we look at the transitions between roles, stages, and phases, we can identify how the best, most ‘us’ opportunities show up. Maybe that’s responding to something that catches our eye, receiving a tap on the shoulder inviting us to apply, sharing what we’re looking for with others, or being open to conversations about possibilities.

So useful.

So, if you’re struggling to articulate where you want to be in the future, start by looking back.

There’s so much to learn there about what you want next, and how to find it.

And that means you can have a useful career conversation without knowing exactly where you’re going.

Wishing you all a week of finding your direction ✨