Career Evaluation Assessment

We saw from the photos that flooded social media accounts, that humans are resilient creatures and we find ways to express ourselves even during the toughest of times. People got creative, found a new hobby or doubled down on old ones, started baking (guilty!), and turned to the outdoors more than ever. The pandemic crystalized what’s important to each of us, and uncovered our core values. Maybe you discovered that community is essential and the lack of connection was debilitating. You may have found that empathy feeds your mind and soul and decided that you only want to work with leaders that are skilled empaths. If you were listening, this year granted the silence for self-assessment and personal reflection.

This opportunity to pause and take stock has been a catalyst for employees in identifying what values are most important to them in the workplace. People started caring fiercely about their work environment and relationships. The thought behind work has evolved from transactional to demanding it be cultivating. Employees need to be regarded as the organization's internal customers. In 2020 and 2021, companies leaned into their diversity, equity and inclusion philosophies and invested in strategies more than ever before. Companies all over the world are adopting permanent or flexible work from home policies to accommodate their employees. Amazon announced in July 2021, the addition of a new leadership principle to “Strive to be Earth’s best employer”. Companies will need to learn to actively recruit (in order to retain) their current workforce. There is an evolution happening in the workplace that I strongly believe we will see the impacts of long after the pandemic has subsided.

In my first LinkedIn article I referenced that we are in the midst of the “Great Resignation” where employees have stayed put for security purposes, but are hitting a wall of pandemic burn out and flocking to new career opportunities. There is a reassessment happening and employees are evaluating whether working for their organization is providing an impactful return on investment. If the ROI margin isn’t satisfactory, they are looking for opportunities that better suit their needs. Businesses have started to see an incline in both attrition rates?as well as hiring challenges. Generation Z more than any generation before them are following their passions and demanding that companies they work for take a stance on socio, economic, political, and environmental issues. As many evaluate their current careers, it is important to utilize a framework to gauge your career path, align your personal and professional values, assess when a role still holds value and opportunity, and feel secure in knowing when it’s time to call it quits in search of your next opportunity

Over the years I have mentored many who are looking for the secret to discovering if the role they are in is the right position for them. I wish there was a magic 8-ball we could shake that could provide that answer. “Don’t Count on it!” However, what I do have is a Career Evaluation Assessment recipe that you can utilize for your own career development that has been tried and tested. This exercise I utilize incorporates Tobias Lundgren’s Bull’s Eye Exercise, advice that I have received over the years from my mentors, and my mother’s handy checklist for any big life decision.

This Career Evaluation Assessment is broken into 5 buckets:

The way each of these buckets are prioritized will look differently for each individual based on personal preference. The first step is to understand which buckets mean the most to you and then you can assess which are your nice-to-haves, must-haves, or deal breakers. For me Work Fundamentals and Career Growth and Opportunities are the most important components when I think about a job.

Work Fundamentals: Work Fundamentals consist of your scope of work, compensation, and where you work. Think of this bucket as the what, where, and some of the why. This boils down to your job description, things like commute or flexible working environment, salary and benefits, and how you are expected to deliver your work.?Think about what your goals are for the year and what field you are working in. It’s important to take stock of what makes you feel accomplished and when you feel like you just nailed it. Do you feel connected with what you are doing and does it spark joy for you? It is important to note those joyful moments because those are key indicators on where your passion and drive come from. When thinking about the core responsibilities you must also consider if you have exploratory time in your work week for passion projects/growth/networking. This is an extremely beneficial and under-discussed part of a person’s day to day work. Lastly, where you work plays a part in your thought process. Think about the location, your commute, and/or work from home policy. Does this match up to what you are looking for?

Assessment Questions:

·????????Is this an industry of interest to me?

·????????What makes me feel energized at work?

·????????When do I think “Hell yes, I did that!” ?

·????????Do I feel fulfilled with the work I do on a day to day basis?

·????????What do I need more/less of at work?

·????????What fuels me and what drains me?

·????????Can I add more value to my company? What value does my company add for me?

·????????What are my goals for the year in my current role? Are they attainable and do I feel inspired to reach them and continue to grow?

·????????Do I have time to explore passions/learn/connect built into my work life?

·????????Do I want to work fully remote, hybrid, in the office, etc.?

Personal Life: We work to live, we do not live to work. This bucket should be the fuel for your why. Do you have the time and mental headspace to turn off at the end of the day? If work stressors seep into your personal life, you should find a way to patch that leak. Having time for fun, family time, and connecting with friends is vital to continue to fuel your work drive. In an ideal world, there should be a harmony between your work life and personal life. Your values should intersect, creativity should be fueled and your life spark should be ignited. If you are a parent, it’s time to evaluate whether the job provides the harmony needed to keep you and your family happy and healthy. At the end of the day, can you say that you are proud to work at the company you work at?

Assessment Questions:

·????????What drives/energizes you? Does your work fuel that in some way?

·????????What role does work play in my life?

·????????Is my work/life rhythm in a place that looks and feels healthy for me?

·????????Does my work allow any opportunities for a side hustle?

·????????Do I feel the space to show up authentically?

·????????Do I have time to enjoy my hobbies?

·????????Without any financial, mental restraints – what would my perfect work/personal life look like?

Career Growth and Opportunities: When inspecting your job or thinking about a new opportunity, this bucket is one that I think about the most. Every job is not going to make you an executive, but it can fill gaps of experience that will help you with your long-term career aspirations. If for instance, you are looking to be a global leader someday and have operational experience, maybe an area to gain exposure in is technology since tech rules the world. The hunt for a “dream job” is going to end in frustration. Career progression is a series of chess moves that will slowly build your repertoire, enhance your knowledge, build your skills, and expand your network. What’s better than searching for the dream job that ticks every single box, is to be in a role that you can continue to grow in and add to your career toolkit.

Assessment Questions:

·????????Is there room for me to grow in your department/company?

·????????Are there opportunities to make key connections?

·????????What skills will/does this opportunity provide me that would be useful for my future?

·????????What do I want to be better at and can I get better here?

·?????????Are there opportunities to get out of my comfort zone?

·????????Is there an upward mobility path?

·????????What would I change about my current job? Can I change them?

·????????Is there an opportunity for me to express my thoughts on things that may be hindering/frustrating me?

Relationships: This bucket is the who. This is where you assess the relationships and connections with your peers, mentors, company leadership, and manager. You should reflect on how the team you are on makes you feel. You can also think about what an ideal boss looks and feels like. What would your ideal leadership approach be? Once you have charted out your preferences, nice-to-haves, and non-negotiables in the relationship category, it is easier to decipher if the work relationships fit your needs and match the cultural fit you want to be part of. Workplace culture is the character and personality of an organization and if this fundamentally does not align with your values and what you are looking for, it will be hard to close the gap. Outside of your team you should also be inspired by people that you can connect with and learn from.

Assessment Questions:

·????????Am I invigorated by my work relationships?

·????????Do I like who I work with?

·????????Do I have something to learn from those that I work with that will be an essential tool to add to my toolkit?

·????????Do I have mentors? If not, how can I get one?

·????????What does leadership look like? Does it fit what I want/need?

·????????Do I have easy access to connect with peers and leadership?

·????????Who is on my personal brand’s “board of advisors”?

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Brand Alignment: You are the CEO of [Insert Your Name Here] LLC, and if you didn’t know that already, welcome to the board meeting! We’ve been waiting for you. Your work, aspirations, who you are, what you stand for, talents unique to you, are your brand. There isn’t another, nor will there ever be, anyone like you. This bucket takes more self-reflection to understand your strengths, weaknesses, where you excel, and what you want your legacy to be. What should come more naturally without as much introspection are your core values. Are your core values similar to the company you work for? As the owner of [Insert Your Name Here] LLC, do you approve of this business merger? Will it propel you forward or add to your career development toolkit?

Assessment Questions:

·????????In what areas do I excel?

·????????What are my organization’s values? What are mine? Are they the same?

· ????????Can you expand your brand at your company?

·????????Does my company invest in areas that matter to me?

·????????What is the impact I want to have?

·????????What is my personal brand? (If you don’t know, ask your friends, confidants, etc. They know you and will tell you your strengths!)

·????????When I feel my happiest at work, what am I doing?

·????????Am I proud of the work that I do? The company that I work for?

·????????What are my biggest accomplishments at work that I am proud of?

·????????Does this align with my brand’s future plans?

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As you make your way through my Career Evaluation Assessment you may have additional questions you want to add to each bucket and I welcome you to make these your own. You may even have an additional bucket to add to your checklist. For some, work is a simple transaction that provides the means for you to fund your passions. That's fine too! I would love to hear your thoughts as you utilize this framework for yourself.

If you, employees, or folks you know get to a point of burn out after working through the pandemic, assessments like this will allow you time to think, reflect, and reprioritize. Many people are feeling disconnected to coworkers, are fatigued, and/or feel like a shift in their careers is needed. As humans, when we feel restless we tend to want to pack up and move out. Before making any career-altering moves, it is important to check in and note: Do I just need a break (a real break people, not a 'but I’ll be available on my phone' break)? Can I have an open conversation with my manager about what I want/need to have a fulfilling career/job here??Is there still value being deposited into my personal brand account and is there still an ROI to tap into? Does my job match up to my career/life goals?

At the end of the day, no one is going to advocate for you better than you can. If you are not speaking up about work dilemmas, then a manager may not know that there is an issue that needs fixing. If you have shared your concerns, assessed your career, and find things are not adding up, then it is time to find your next opportunity. Sometimes working through this assessment identifies new inspiration and passion on how you can approach your current work. Other times, the organization or specific team isn’t the best fit. Either way CEO, it’s your company. Run it how you see fit.

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