The One Question to Ask Yourself for Career Clarity
Are you stuck in your career and searching for a way to find your true path? Career Coaches and Global Job Search Coaches share their expertise on the five question every career coaching client should ask themselves to gain clarity. The article starts with the insight to consider money and talents irrelevant and concludes with the importance of determining what you really want, featuring a total of five expert insights. Discover the key question that could transform your career journey.
- Consider Money and Talents Irrelevant
- Identify Energizing Problems to Solve
- Clarify Priorities for Next Job
- Find Energizing and Fulfilling Activities
- Determine What You Really Want
Consider Money and Talents Irrelevant
Every career-coaching client should ask themselves, "What would I do if money or talents were not a factor? And why?"
For example, if you didn't have to worry about how much income you'd make or if you had the natural abilities to excel, maybe you'd want to be a circus performer! But why? Is it because you like to travel, you like attention and applause, you like dressing up, you like entertaining people, you like working with funny and talented people, you like being unique, you like physical challenges, or some combination of these reasons?
Asking yourself these questions will help you gain clarity in your ideal career path if you dig to the root reasons behind your answer.
Identify Energizing Problems to Solve
The most transformative question every career-coaching client should ask themselves is: "What types of problems do I feel most energized to solve?"
This question cuts to the core of finding a career path that feels both meaningful and sustainable. Many people focus on job titles or industries, but true career clarity comes from identifying the types of challenges or needs that genuinely motivate and energize you. When you pinpoint the problems that intrigue or inspire you—whether they involve helping people, designing systems, improving efficiency, or creating solutions—you unlock a sense of purpose that keeps you engaged, even when work becomes demanding.
For example, one of my clients, frustrated with her senior compliance role in finance, realized she felt most energized when solving complex problems rather than performing routine checks and reporting. In our sessions, she discovered her true passion lay in identifying issues others overlooked and devising solutions to improve systems. This insight led her to pivot to a financial systems administrator role, where she now engages in continuous problem-solving—a far better fit for her analytical mindset energized by figuring things out. For Jenna, understanding the type of problems she loved to tackle was the key to finding work that truly resonated.
This question matters because it bridges the gap between our abilities and our deeper motivations, ensuring that a career choice aligns with our intrinsic interests rather than external expectations or trends. Understanding this distinction is crucial for making career decisions that feel aligned with who you are, not just what you can do.
Clarify Priorities for Next Job
The best question to ask is, 'What's most important to me in the next job or organization? What will I need to see or hear to believe it is the right choice for me?' What I have found is when people are uncertain about their priorities in a job or career, they drift from role to role and are often persuaded by the last person they speak with about a job or career. Taking time to get clarity does not mean you cannot gather input from others. It establishes a benchmark that something else needs to exceed for you to consider that option.
Find Energizing and Fulfilling Activities
One essential question every person should ask themselves to gain clarity on their ideal career path is: "What activities make me feel energized and fulfilled, both personally and professionally?" This question is crucial because it cuts to the core of what motivates and drives a person. Understanding what activities invigorate you can reveal a lot about where your passions and strengths lie, which are key components of a satisfying career.
Reflecting on this can help identify a career path that not only utilizes your skills but also aligns with your values and interests, leading to greater job satisfaction and professional fulfillment. It's important to consider this because spending your professional life engaged in work that resonates with your personal identity and aspirations makes daily tasks feel more meaningful and can significantly boost career longevity and success.
Theresa White
Career Clarity Expert & 5x Certified Career Coach at Career-Bloom Coaching (hyperlink https://www.careerbloomcoaching.com/)
Determine What You Really Want
The most important question to ask yourself for career clarity is, "What do I really want?" If you're on the path to finding your passion, this question keeps you true to yourself. Set an intention to ask yourself the deep questions, and let go of what others think you "should" do.
Having worked with thousands of overthinkers through career change, soul-searching at the career crossroads is an iterative process. Your first time asking the question may reveal your career direction. Subsequent times, you begin to see the ideal path, closing the gap from where you are to where you want to be. Every action you take leads you closer, until you reach your destination.
