Fri 07 / 08 / 20
Build on your strengths to find a new career
In this post Jo Murfin, of JO MURFIN COACHING, shares her expert advice on how best to develop your confidence, build on your strengths, and develop a fulfilling career path.
By Jo Murfin of
When asked to list our strengths for a job application or CV most of us will get stuck after a handful, although we actually use many more strengths than we realise in our daily lives.
However, even before we get to the application stage, we find we’re facing two basic problems:
- I don’t know what job, career or life direction I want.
- I don’t have the confidence to go for it.
You might feel completely lost and have no idea what’s next. You may be thinking of staying on the same career track or applying for the same type of job, but the very thought causes you to feel dull and unmotivated.
People who are most likely to end up doing something that’s right for them, in my experience, are those who spend the time at the start of their journey thinking about what they really want and perhaps just as importantly what they don’t want.
Identifying what you really want
You could start by asking yourself these questions:
- What would I rather not have in my life anymore?
- What three things are really important to me?
- What three things do I appreciate about my life?
- What would I like to have more of?
This gives you a starting point to build on. You could get creative, for example draw a picture, sing a song, write a poem or take a photograph that represents your ideal life for the future.
Finding the confidence to go for it!
You may be feeling stuck, lost or unmotivated because you don’t know what you’ve got to offer. You might have been doing the same job for a long time, had time away from your career or had a negative experience that’s caused you to feel less confident.
You could start by keeping a daily reflective diary. Each day write down:
- What went well.
- What you did to make it a success.
- What top three strengths you used to make it a success.
- What you could do differently next time.
Do this for all areas of your life, not just in work. Writing down the strengths you used to bring success will start to build your picture of what you’re good at. I recommend reviewing your diary at the end of each week and writing down your highlights, which will also help you to build a positive mindset.
We use many more strengths than we realise in our daily lives. Once you can see your strengths set out on a daily basis you’ll start to see what you’ve got to offer and your confidence will grow. You can then think about how you can build on and use those strengths in your future life, job or career.
Take a look at my video to see how I use At My Best Strength Cards, which are just one way to help people to identify a new career direction and draw out their strengths.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYGWNBeoaHA
Working with a qualified coach can help you to focus your energy on the things you can control, know your worth and maximise your strengths. Your coach will guide you using professional tools and techniques in a safe and non-judgemental space. Coaching has a clear purpose and a future focus so you can action plan to get what you want.
To find out how Jo can help you to build on your strengths to find a job, career or new direction that you’ll love, email Jo at murfinjo@live.com
Connect with Jo on LinkedIn
Visit Jo’s website
About the Author
Jo Murfin of JO MURFIN COACHING: Helping leaders to solve their leadership problems, find their unique identity and get on track for a career change or new life direction. Jo is an experienced Qualified Leadership Career & Development Coach and a certified member of the Institute of Leadership & Management and the Association for Coaching.
If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk