Despite the constant jokes of Mondayitis, Thank God it’s Friday etc, a PwC study found that 60% of employees say they’re very or moderately satisfied at work. A healthy career is one that provides you with opportunities to grow, keeps you motivated and maintains a good balance with your personal life.
A healthy career doesn’t just magically appear in front of you, it’s something you have to cultivate and tend to. If you’re just starting your career or thinking about a change, here are some things to keep in mind to ensure you build a career that is healthy and keeps you happy.
1. Figure out what you want It’s easy to get herded into a particular career path because of what you think other people expect of you. At some point, you need to figure out what’s really important to you and what is going to make you happy.
Write down your skills and strengths and consider hobbies and activities that genuinely excite you. Reflect on moments when you felt excited and engaged in a project. These can be indicators of your true interests.
2. Recognise your core values and beliefs Finding a career that aligns with your values and beliefs is a key aspect of job satisfaction. It brings authenticity to your career and reinforces who you are. If, for example, you value remote work, being part of a company that strictly enforces office work won’t bring you much happiness.
Ask yourself the following questions: What makes you happy? What motivates you? What does success look like? This will help you build a list of values and beliefs that you can consider when looking at potential careers and companies.
3. Set career goals Whether they’re short or long-term, career goals will keep you motivated. The trick to successful career goals is to set ones that are achievable. Create a list of career goals and pick one or two priorities. Ask yourself if you can realistically achieve them – do you have the time and means to do it?
Remember, when you set goals, forget about what other people expect from you. What does success look like to you? And how do you plan to get there?
4. Continuous learning As you develop new skills and grow, you open the doors to new opportunities as well as develop confidence and satisfaction, leading to a more fulfilling career. Create a habit of seeking new knowledge through workshops, formal education or self-study. You can access plenty of free or low-cost courses online, like LinkedIn Learning or OpenLearn.
5. Networking Networking is the natural extension of this and will provide the building blocks as you develop your career. The more genuine friends and contacts you make, the more options and support you’ll have available should you need it. Whether it’s getting to know the people you work with or joining an industry group, make the time to build these all-important connections.
Remember, there’s no standard blueprint for success or happiness. But regularly taking the time to reflect on what you want and how you’ll get there will ensure you craft a path that brings professional and personal fulfilment. So, why not start today?
