~ Opinion ~

There is a myth that in order to be successful in your career, you just have to get the right skills, the right qualifications, the right experiences, have the right personality traits, to then match to the roles and jobs that are available in the labour market - essentially, slot yourself into the economy.

Taking this approach is tempting and sometimes absolutely necessary, especially when times are tough.

With the push to pay the mortgage, career dreams can fade to dust.

The fundamental flaw in this approach is that the labour market needs keep changing.

So a slot-yourself-into-the-economy approach requires you to keep changing - to bend, stretch and squash, until suddenly you’re not needed anymore when your role is made redundant.

Over the last couple of months, I have been working with exceptionally highly skilled people – some of the most highly skilled and qualified people in the country.

My role has been to assist them in reviewing their careers and find life after losing a job that they enjoyed and were committed to.

What has astounded me, in every case, while there has been grief and anger, there has been a sense of relief; they are finally able to consider something else.

Something they have always wanted to do, and longed to do, and they have been given freedom to explore.

Now that doesn’t mean forsaking the bills.

We all have mortgages to pay, or least the bills keep rolling in and having money is essential, but what about what you really wanted to do?

To quote Mary Oliver, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

In your next career decision, if you can’t bring yourself to focus on your dreams, at the very least, think about yourself first.

Put yourself at the centre. Ask yourself some core questions such as;

What role do values play in your career decisions – would you honestly work for anyone, doing anything?

What would you categorically not do?

What drives you?

How does your career fulfil your life’s purpose?

What role does your family and spirituality play in your next career move?

How can you make a contribution to your community and the world?

Have you explored career constellations, rather than pathways, broadening and widening your options?

Is your career stage and age relevant to your decision making?

Have you made the most of every opportunity that has come your way?

What’s holding you back from working towards what you really want to do?

Focussing only on fitting into the current labour market serves a purpose but it will also work against you in the long term – security now, could mean redundancy later on.

Remember you are at the centre and in the driver's seat of your life, not the labour market.

Jenny Bean is a professional member of the Career Development Association of NZ (CDANZ). If you are looking for career development support (personal or organisational), contact her at CareerBeanz.