2.1: Meaningful Work

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The first step of the career exploration process involves answering the question “Who Am I?” This phase entails taking time to study yourself in depth and understanding things such as:

What motivates you?
What do you like doing?
What do you not like doing?
What work environments energize you and what environments drain you?
What are your character strengths?
What skills do you have or can you acquire that employers will pay you for?

Your answers to these questions will help you find “Your Meaningful Work.” Certified Dream Coach and Dream Coach Group Leader Bill Johnson has created a powerful diagram that illustrates this point. The center of the diagram where all components intersect is where “Your Meaningful Work” lies. Keep this diagram in mind as we explore each of these internal components through the career assessments included in this course.

graphic showing intersection among values, interests, audience, talents — Image Credit: Finding Meaningful Work. (Image by Ian Joslin is licensed under CC BY 4.0)

No assessment can know more about you than you know about yourself. You are your own expert, and these career assessments will give you additional frames of reference. The assessments will help you make connections to your past experiences and apply those experiences to your future career goals. Be sure to keep an open mind throughout this process. Ask questions and explore areas of uncertainty. You only know what you know, and the more time and energy you invest in self-exploration, the more informed you will be as you make decisions that impact your future career goals. The information you learn about yourself will be used as your “filter” or “lens” through which to evaluate or judge whether potential careers will be rewarding for you. This journey can be fun and exciting and at times a bit overwhelming, but the more energy you put into this journey, the more you will gain!