Create a career, not just a resume. Practical steps to understand what you really want to do

The decision to choose a career path can be one of the most important but also the most difficult choices in any person's life. Often we are faced with the question of what we really want to do, without having a clear answer. So how can we help ourselves determine a career direction that will bring us satisfaction? The following article offers some practical steps to help you get closer to the answer.

Analysis of own preferences and experiences

Write down the tasks that you like to do. Start with a simple exercise - take a piece of paper and a pen and think about your work experience so far. Think about which tasks you do with joy and which give you pleasure. Are they creative tasks, analyzing data, or maybe direct contact with customers? Analyzing these moments will help you understand which aspects of the work are most valuable to you.

Strengths and skills 

Consider which tasks you perform with ease. This can be a good indicator of your natural abilities or the skills you have acquired over the course of your career. Or maybe your strengths come directly from your education. Consider what skills are used in these tasks and whether you would like to develop them.

Passion and duty

At the same time, think about whether the tasks you perform quickly and efficiently are actually the ones that give you pleasure. Sometimes it happens that we perform tasks well out of a sense of duty or as a result of our education and previous professional practice, but we do not derive satisfaction from them.

Having designated tasks that bring you joy and those in which you feel comfortable, take a closer look at them. Check out which ones are often repeated or closely related to each other. You can try grouping these tasks into larger categories, which will help you better understand your main interests and skills. Such an organization of tasks will not only make it easier for you to see what you really like to do, but also help in choosing the right professional roles that will perfectly suit your predisposition.

Career planning and professional development

After thorough preparation, proceed to the search for professional roles that are in line with your predisposition. Check out the different positions and industries that can offer jobs tailored to your strengths, preferences and interests.

Flexibility in choosing a company

If you are interested in a particular company, but the position offered contains tasks that you do not necessarily like, find out how much time they take up in your daily work. Do not give up a potentially interesting option too rashly. A company that offers opportunities to develop and implement interesting projects can prove to be a good place, even if not all tasks will be ideal for you.

Job interview

During the interview, ask about the organizational culture, career prospects and details related to daily responsibilities. If among the tasks there are those that you do not like, it is worth finding out what percentage of working time they will represent. Having this knowledge will enable you to make an informed decision.

Discovering what you really want to do takes time and deep self-reflection. but it is crucial to your long-term satisfaction in both your professional and personal life. Using the tips presented, you can gradually discover and define the career path that will prove to be the most suitable for you.