How to make difficult career decisions

If making decisions about your career were easy, nobody would ever need a career confidence coach like me.

Some decisions are super easy and straightforward. One of my jobhunting clients a few months ago told me about the interview from hell where the interviewer challenged and criticised everything she said.

She was amazed when they called her up the next day and offered the job – but for less money than she wanted, more hours and a longer commute.

She’d been to another interview earlier in the week – they made her an offer too – more money, better benefits, flexible working and a much shorter commute.

That was an easy decision.

But it’s not always as straightforward as that.

When career decisions are difficult …

When career decisions are difficult, often it’s because:

You don’t have enough information
There’s too much choice
You’re scared of getting it wrong

Five simple ways to make difficult career decisions seem easy

Today I want to share with you five simple ways that you can make those difficult career decisions seem easy.

Talk to a trusted friend

Talk to a trusted friend – somebody who knows you well and whose opinion you value. Crucially this needs to be somebody who is a good listener.

Talk through the decision you are making. Talk through the best possible outcome and the worst possible outcome.

Often this is enough to help you make the right decision.

Use the Cartesian questions

I talked about these in an earlier blog post. The Cartesian questions are a way of asking yourself questions that opens your mind to different possibilities. They’re really powerful … especially when you respond instinctively.

Find out more here.

Work with a career coach

Sometimes it’s more helpful to talk to somebody who can be completely objective, with no hidden or subconscious agenda. Somebody who’s highly trained and skilled at asking just the right questions to help you make effective decisions.

Book time with a Career Coach. Some coaches offer a complimentary clarity call. That probably won’t be enough to make your decision but a clarity call will help you discover if she’s the coach for you.

If you already know and like my straightforward and practical approach, book a Career Power Hour with me for just £99.

Visualise your future

Visualise your future so that you can get a better understanding of how your decision will affect your career goals.

What do you want your future to look like? How will the decision affect your future?

And if you’re not clear on your career goals, spend some time thinking about what you want your future career to look like. Who do you want to work with? What type of employer do you want? What type of work fills you with joy?

Get the information you need

Now I’m hesitant to encourage you to get more information because often we tell ourselves “I don’t have enough information” and it’s simply a procrastination strategy. (Find out how to stop procrastinating here).

But sometimes, more information and more detail is useful.

For example if you’re weighing up two job opportunities, could you talk to others who already work at the same organisation? If it’s about the commute, could try it out before you make a decision.

Don’t let the ‘shoulds’ hold you back

I’ve left the most important one until last. You might have also noticed I can’t count but this one’s super important.

Don’t let the ‘shoulds’ hold you back … what do I mean by that?

Don’t make the decision based on what somebody else thinks you ‘should’ do. Or what you think your mother will think you ‘should’ do. Or your partner. Or your manager.

Any decision based on ‘shoulds’ will eventually lead to frustration and resentment.

Make sure you are making the decision with YOU front of your mind.

Difficult career decisions

Making difficult career decisions can be frustrating and draining. But once you’ve made the decision you’ll feel so much better, even if it’s a decision that scares you.

If you’ve talked to somebody who knows you well, or worked with a career coach, asked yourself the right questions, thought about what you want your future to look like, got all the relevant information and you’re focused on the decision that you want to make (rather than the decision someone else thinks you ‘should’ make), then you’ll be sure to make the right decision that moves you forward with your career goals.