Career Clues

Imagine an individual knowing what to ask their prospective new boss or new employer in order to truly determine if the position is right for them?

Whether an individual is currently in the market for a job or they are employed and looking to manage their career within their current organisation, CareerClues™ is a great way to gain initial insight.

One of the inherent problems in considering career issues is that individuals may not know how to articulate what it is they are looking for in a career or better yet, what questions to ask to make sure the job they’re considering is a good fit.

Individuals will describe themselves with terms like “I want to be my own boss”, “I like working with people”, “I want flexibility in my schedule”, “I want to learn new things in my job”. The problem is how to “interpret” those statements and put them in context so that not only does the individual know what they need in a job, but that the employer is able to provide the right information to help the individual decide if it’s right.

Many people think that “career advice” will lead to a particular career title (Sales, Marketing, Management), but these areas are too broad to really be helpful.

What am I really interested in? Most people can answer this question with, “I like the idea of working in sales OR, I like the idea of working in a retail environment where I can work with fashion OR, I would love to be able to work with technology or work in a Lab, etc.” The very first step is to explore what “interests” a person has.
What do I already have training, education or experience in? Answering this question can make sure that they are attempting to take advantage of areas that they already have expertise or education. This would be answered with things like, “I have a degree in Accounting OR, I have 4 years experience working in retail OR, I have worked with my mom helping her with her day care business, etc.” The second step is to determine if the person can capitalise on education or experience they already have.
Now utilise the CareerClues™ data and learn about core behavioural traits and learn “what questions to ask” in order to make sure that whatever job is being considered, it is a good “fit”. Regardless of the job “title”, what matters is that there is a “fit”.

Almost everyone can truly benefit from a mentor or career coach to help manage their career, but the above steps are a great place to start! Remember that this applies whether the individual is looking for a new employer or is simply looking to plan their career path within their current organisation.