Career Planning: What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

Do you remember the first time you were asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Probably not. These career planning conversations start earlier and earlier, with kids proudly announcing their big career plans before ever leaving elementary school.

Here’s the catch. While most of us don’t pursue our early career dreams of becoming an Astronaut or Truck Driver, we are each exposed to career planning early and often throughout life as if it’s an easy question and you must know the answer.

As you age into adulthood, people still ask about what you want to be, but the question transforms slightly: What do you do? When you’re in the middle of a job search, this is likely the last question you ever want to be asked. It can feel overwhelming, especially if you feel any uncertainty about what you want to be when you “grow up.”

Believe it or not, certainty about what you want to be can be a disadvantage, especially right now when job roles are changing so quickly. You don’t want to back yourself into a corner professionally.

Remember: There are no wrong ways to chart your career path. There is no right way to have a career, and there are no wrong ways to build your profession. You and your work will evolve, just like your career dreams evolved from childhood.

Exercises to Understand What’s Next

Understanding your career plan starts with thinking differently, and these exercises were designed to help you do that. As you begin, remember that this is for you, and you are not bound to any existing roles or careers. You are welcome to change your mind as many (or as few) times as you want for your future.

Note that this activity may take you a few hours to finish. We’ll ask you to step away from this post, grab a pen and paper, and reflect. Plan your time accordingly.

First, write about what you do every day right now. Take 30 minutes to write 500 words or less about these daily activities. Consider things like commute, downtime, and family - not just the daily tasks.

Next, review your first assignment and ID areas you would change. If you have to drive to work, would you like to work closer to home? Are there different occupations you want to try? Take 30 minutes to write another 500 words or less about what daily activities you might add or remove from your first list that would improve your life.

Now it’s time to start imagining your ideal life. Do you want to live on a Caribbean island for the rest of your days? Do you want to be a team leader? Remember, there are no right answers. Take 30 minutes to draft what your ideal life looks like in 500 words or less.

Finally, write about what scares you. Being scared means there is some real learning to be had. Does public speaking mortify you? Do you worry about getting stuck in a job? Again, take 30 minutes to jot down 500 words or less about what scares you most.

Discoveries From Your Exercises

After completing these writing reflections, did you feel like you had a hard time pinning down what you want to do? If so, you aren’t alone. Most people find this career planning exercise challenging.

Remember, that challenge is the beginning of essential insights that will improve your career and quality of life. Get started by rereading the change exercise and identifying two items from that list to take action on. Move toward what you want to try next.

These experiences, though intimidating, are where you are going to find the most significant opportunities. Ambiguity and uncertainty can help guide you towards that next step in your career planning journey.

Read on for more ways to make your job search a success: How to Achieve Career Growth In Your Industry