When you think about your future, do you have a lot of ideas but aren’t sure how to untangle them? Or do you just not know where to start? Separating your thoughts into different “buckets” can help you identify themes or unearth direction you didn’t know where there.
Create lists in 5 buckets: Locations, Industries, Companies, Roles/Job Titles, and Work Values. You can begin to identify where your ideas align – and where some of the tension or discrepancies lie in the ideas about your future. Are some of the buckets empty? That indicates an area of exploration and information gathering.
Locations:
Begin by listing as many locations that you would be willing to call home. Include specific cities – but also broad regions or descriptions. Do you want to live in a large city or small town? Include that information. Are there places that you absolutely do NOT want to live – put those on the list.
Industries:
Start broadly and include any industry that you are drawn to. Do you want to work in Finance or Marketing? Include those on the list – but also think of industries that need expertise in those fields. (Hint: they all do – what interests YOU? Music, travel, technology, healthcare? The list is endless).
Companies:
Do you have a dream company in mind? Add them to the list and think of their competitors. Is there a product or service that you couldn’t live without? Put them on the list.
Roles/Job Titles:
What do you type in when you go visit job boards? Start there and list as many as that come to mind. Not sure of the titles? You can list skills you want to be sure to use as a place to start.
Work Values:
What are aspects of work that you need. Do you want to have high earning potential or generous paid time off? Do you want to collaborate on a team or do you prefer to work independently. Think of the things that would create an environment for you to thrive.
Tips:
- As you develop your list, don’t worry if you have empty or almost empty “buckets.” This exercise is intended to help you visualize the ideas you DO have.
- Identify themes you see and how the buckets connect.
- Look for discrepancies: between locations and companies, work values and industry trends, etc.
- Which buckets are empty? Develop strategies to reflect or research (Hint: Meet with a career counselor at the CMC to process).
