How long is it since you took stock of where you are in your career? I believe in doing a regular career health check. As I’ve said in the past, 

“Taking the time to assess the health of your career is just as important as having regular check-ups. It ensures you’re creating the life that you want. It’s easy to tell when your health has gone off track, but without conscious attention, your career could be off track and you probably wouldn’t know. Well, not until something dramatic happens.”

Now is the time to do an assessment. 

Why? Because it’s early in the year – early enough to make changes that will deliver results in 2022.

Before you can start making wise career choices and decisions, it’s essential to assess where you stand right now. I’ve put together twenty questions that will help you review your career, your feelings about your career, and help you to create your dreams for the future.

Take a few minutes and grab your journal to work through the questions. The power resides in answering them honestly.

1. 1. What goals do you want to achieve within the next 12-18 months?
   2. What gets you up in the morning? What is it that excites and inspires you?
   3. Which parts of your job do you enjoy the most?
   4. Which parts of your job do you enjoy the least?
   5. Are you feeling fulfilled by the work that you do?
   6. How often do you wake up in the early hours worrying about your work?
   7. Does your job allow you to use most of your skills and experience?
   8. What are your work relationships like? Do you enjoy them?
   9. How often does your current job or career intrude on your relationships and private life?
   10. What impact is your current career/role having on your physical, mental or emotional health?
   11. Is your job (and the company you work for) consistent with your personal values and ethics?
   12. If you could change anything about your career, what would it be?
   13. Has the idea of career change been popping into your head lately?
   14. Do you have the sense you’ve gone off the right career track?
   15. What are the wider industry trends that will impact your career? 
   16. What are the wider industry trends that will impact your career? 
   17. Are there any internal opportunities where you currently work?
   18. Are there areas you need to work on to build up your skills?
   19. Do you have a clear idea of your next career step?
   20. Do you have a documented career strategy to keep you on track?

What next?

Review your answers and look for the key issues. What’s good, what’s bad and what’s downright ugly about your career health.

Once you know where you stand right now and why, you can make some sound choices about your future and start planning. It’s not easy to step outside yourself and view your career with impersonal eyes. That’s where a coach or mentor can be valuable in keeping you honest and answerable for your decisions. Another great tool for maintaining your career health is Athena’s Career Clarity Online Program which helps you choose, design and plan the career you dream of. Many of our participants re do the program every year, making their investment even more beneficial for them. 

Need help moving forward? Feel free to give me a call and we’ll chat about your best options.