5 Empowering Career Questions to Ask Yourself (Before Your Next Move)

There is a lot going on right now in the job market, to say the least. With all the uncertainty surrounding economic conditions and the evolving role of AI in business environments, determining the next step in your career may be difficult to predict. However, you can always make your decisions based on your interests and with some foundational wisdom before moving forward. 

In this article, we will explore critical questions you should answer in your current job AND before making your next career move. Preparation is half the battle, and those who fail to plan...you know the rest... plan to fail.

The first time you realized that a role was a good fit for you, how did it make you feel? I remember feeling like I “had finally arrived”. I guess if I had to choose a word, it would be “Euphoria” —  intense happiness and self confidence. If you have experienced this feeling then you know what I am talking about. A role that utilizes your skills and interests, challenges you, allows for growth, and provides a great salary -- is a good fit for anyone who is looking to be fulfilled in their career.

I talk with a lot of people who are exploring how and when to make their next move. What most are looking to find is clarity about what they should do in this moment to find their next opportunity. To help solve this dilemma, I believe that you already have the clues to make the best decision for you. Here’s why.

Who knows you better than you? When contemplating a career move, it’s crucial that you ask yourself empowering questions to inform your decisions.

When deciding their next move, most people think about their current skills. What's not considered are their values, strengths, interests and transferable skills. These areas can be the keys to building a fulfilling career. Another key factor is money, which also weighs heavily in career decisions. Your financial situation is an important aspect in the process of identifying whether a career path is the right fit, or not.

Now, thinking about your skills, values, strengths, interests, and salary requirements, let’s explore five questions that can give you the advantage when it comes to making career decisions. These questions are relevant for evaluating your next job AND your current role.

Here are five empowering career questions to consider before you make your next move:

1. What Are My Core Values? Reflect on what values are most important to you in a career. Does the career move align with those values?

2. What Are My Professional Strengths and How Can They Be Best Utilized? Consider your unique skills and how they might be leveraged in the new role. Will this role allow you to use and further develop these strengths?

3. What Impact Do I Want to Have in My Career? Think about the broader impact you wish to have through your work. Does this career move bring you closer to making that impact?

4. How Does This Role Fit Into My Long-Term Career Goals? Be strategic and evaluate how this step aligns with your long-term objectives. Is it a stepping stone towards your ultimate career aspirations?

5. What Learning and Growth Opportunities Will This Role Provide? It’s imperative to review the potential for personal and professional growth, otherwise, will you become stagnated? Will this career move challenge you and help you grow in meaningful ways?

The Money Question

We can’t talk about career satisfaction without addressing the topic of money. When it comes to the skills and experience you have, the obvious question is, "Am I being paid or offered what I am worth?" Everyone should advocate for themselves and negotiate the best salary. Likewise, how does your salary requirement commensurate with the market value? The key to finding the best answer depends on where you are located geographically, what industry you are in, and the current market demands. Just like the stock market, role and skill demands can vary from time to time. Staying abreast of shifts in your industry and whether you are developing in-demand skills can help with this challenge. This strategy works effectively if you are exploring job offers. Most times if you are already in the role, negotiations can be tricky.

When thinking about where you are now and what’s next, these five empowering career questions can be a useful tool for making solid decisions. Likewise, you must be mindful of the areas that can blindside you. There are inherent risks in any decision, but you can use mentors, career coaches, and colleagues to help point out dangers in your plan. The goal is to understand the areas that can derail your plan. And in this case, critical feedback from your confidants can be useful for making the best decisions. 

Did You Know: LinkedIn recently published a Jobs on the Rise List 2024 that shows the fastest growing roles in the U.S. this year. We know AI roles have been in demand since ChatGPT was launched in November 2022. However, other notable roles include areas such as marketing, communications, recruiting, and environmental health & safety.

For Jobs on the Rise List by Country: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (French and German), Türkiye, the UAE and the UK.

Next time we will delve into more topics for navigating this complex job market and the skills you should focus on.  In the meantime, stay focused, stay positive, and keep learning! 

~Stacey

Stacey Young Rivers, Ph.D. is a talent development leader with expertise in developing strategies to close skills gaps, build talent pipelines, and create internal career mobility models. Dr. Rivers is also a mom, author, and researcher.

Check out her latest featured article in HR Mag: L&D's Branding Dilemma: Reshaping the Role of Talent Development in the Age of AI.