How to Reassess Your Career for the End of 2021

Where will your career take you in 2022?

It depends on what you do for the rest of 2021!

With the end of the year approaching, now is the perfect time to take stock of where you are in your career – and plan for the future.

Whether you’re just getting started in your career, aiming for a promotion, or looking to enter a new field, here’s how to assess your career options and chart a clear path for success in 2022:

Tips for Reassessing Your Career

Reflect on 2020 and 2021.

Did the events of the past 18 months provide any insights about:

How (and where) do you prefer to work?
What you’d like to do with your future?
Areas in which you naturally excel?
The health and stability of your chosen field or industry?

Consider what you’ve learned about yourself, your skills, priorities, career ambitions, and the field or industry in which you’ve worked.

Take a career test (or two).

If you’re unsure which type of job or industry is right for you, a career self-assessment test can help you understand which roles best suit your personality, needs, and goals. Here are a few free and low-cost options to consider:

Define a new goal for yourself.

And write it down! When you’re clear on your job goals, it saves you precious time, energy, and frustration as you reassess your career plan. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help clarify what you want:

What interests you most?
What is your dream job?
What’s most important to you: money, flexibility, autonomy, responsibility, advancement potential, making a meaningful impact – or something else?
What type of personality do you have?
Why are you looking to make a change?
If you’re currently employed, what do you like and dislike about your current position?

Reassessing where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you want to go will help you determine the next best step in your career.

Evaluate your situation.

Once you’ve defined a new goal for your career, determine what you need to do to get there:

What transferable skills do you have that can be used in your target job?
How will you close the gap between your current job and career vision?
What potential roadblocks stand between you and your goal? Consider the employment market where you live (or want to move to), your industry’s long-term outlook, and the education or certifications you may need.
Who can help you along the way? Friends, neighbors, fellow alumni, career counselors, staffing agencies, and more can be valuable sources for information, networking, and career guidance.

Use the results of this analysis to refine your goal, if needed. Then get ready to take the plunge.

Need help reassessing where you want to go in your career?

As you begin planning for next year, consider partnering with a PrideStaff recruiter. Our experts will take the time to understand where you are and where you want to be – and then help you get there.

If you want to build your transferable job skills, explore a different field, gain valuable experience, apply with your local PrideStaff office, or search for jobs here.