Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Step 1 in STEM Career Development

In my previous blog, "How To Define What It Is You Want To Do", we explored how finding a job in general can be a complicated journey, but finding a job that really fits your aspirations is even more challenging. For a job to be fulfilling, it needs to complement what someone really wants.

But how do you really know what you want? That can be one of the most complex questions you’ll have to address in your career. As per Professor James R. Bailey, who expands on the importance of self-reflection in his article titled “Don’t Underestimate the Power of Self-Reflection”, reflection requires sitting with yourself, taking an honest moment to think about what transpired, what worked, what didn’t, what can be done, and what can’t.

Reflection requires courage: such introspection can lead to significant insights that impact future behavior and decision-making.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Research has shown that self-reflection boosts productivity, as per Jennifer Porter, an executive and team coach, who explains this thoroughly in her article titled “Why You Should Make Time for Self-Reflection (Even If You Hate Doing It)”. She explains that we tend to be biased towards action, somehow believing that action will always lead to some successful result. The truth is, it doesn’t always – unless there’s real time invested in a thorough thought process beforehand.

My point here is to convince you in investing this time for you and get started. Based on my own experience, readings and research, here’s my list of suggested steps:

Tip 1: Identify your Motivations
As Simon Sinek explains in his bestselling book Start With Why, everything starts with why. Why are you looking for your next move? Why did you feel motivated to read this article and invest in your professional development? What do you want to achieve at the end of the day and why? Be mindful that while external motivations may offer immediate gratification, they often fall short in providing enduring growth and satisfaction.

Embracing the process of self-discovery and understanding your true desires for a professional change is key to unlocking a career path that aligns with your authentic self. Remember, the pursuit of a career that brings you genuine joy and fulfillment is a gradual process that demands patience and honesty. By prioritizing internal motivations over external rewards, you set yourself on a path towards a profession that not only excites you, but also nurtures your personal and professional growth.

Tip 2: Schedule Time
Show yourself that you are serious about this. Set some time up in your agenda only for yourself to “think” and reflect back on your professional career path. Make sure you protect that slot of time and don’t give it up to other distractions. This symbolic act will get you motivated to really kick-start the process and stay committed.

Tip 3: Self-questioning
Do you feel that you've been constantly running away from making time for yourself? Have you been procrastinating on seizing control of your professional path for too long? It's essential to reflect on your feelings at this stage of your career journey. Are you content but still seeking more growth opportunities? Do you feel stuck in a specialized role, yearning to explore broader horizons? Embrace these emotions, acknowledge and label them as they will provide you with great insights for the next steps in the process.

Tip 4: Create Inspiration
Grab your notepad and start small: start a collection of motivational reads, conduct your own research, and start writing your findings (or start drawing if you lean more towards visuals).

Simply begin by collecting your thoughts and reflecting on your past professional experiences. Starting is the key - the more you dive in, the more confidence you'll gain, keeping you motivated to persist and get inspired, even better to make it fun and not a chore. You don’t have to be perfect; remember, the beauty lies in the transformation journey you create for yourself, not in achieving perfection.

Tip 5: Reflect on your Resumé
Do you ever stop to think about the stories your resumé tells? Take a moment to review your resumé, what professional experiences were you sharing with pride during interviews to the point that you didn’t want to stop telling your story? And which ones do you sometimes shy away from? And here, ask yourself why. Why do some experiences sound like a triumph while others fade into the background? Take time to identify and assess what you like and dislike in your current position. If you were to redesign your career, what would you keep in that resumé and what would you change?

Now, having gone through this process myself, I want to share that this is a messy and long process which needs time, not perfection. The aim here is simply to inspire you to pause for real and reflect, because here again, this survey of the past will give you so many insights for the future.

I invite you to use this time as an opportunity to apply these suggestions and act – stay tuned for more!