What’s Next? How to Identify the Right Career Move for You

AI-Generated Image

Audio version of article - Listen instead of reading!

0:00

We’ve all been there—that quiet (or not so quiet) moment where you realize your job no longer feels aligned with who you are or who you’re becoming. Maybe it hit you at 3 a.m. and left you wide awake, wondering if you’ve outgrown your current path. Or perhaps it’s a lingering feeling during your commute or in back-to-back Zoom calls: “Something’s got to change.”

Here’s the truth no one talks about enough: Career clarity is less about certainty and more about alignment. It’s not just choosing your next move—it’s choosing your right move. And the best way to get there? Start with better questions.

When I work with professionals in transition, I don’t push them into a decision. I slow them down long enough to reflect intentionally. Because when your next step aligns with your purpose, passions, and priorities, it won’t just look good on paper. It will feel right in your soul.

Here are five thought-provoking questions I guide my clients through—ones that can unlock powerful clarity in your own journey:

1. What gives me energy? What drains me?

Before you make a move, get honest about your natural rhythms. Reflect on moments in your current or past roles where you felt energized, alive, or "in flow." Then contrast that with tasks or dynamics that leave you emotionally depleted, even if you're skilled at them.

➡️ Clue: The right role won’t eliminate hard days, but it will consistently energize more than it exhausts.

2. What values do I want my next role to reflect?

If your current role misaligns with your values, no amount of pay or prestige will make it fulfilling. Consider what matters most to you: integrity, creativity, flexibility, service, family, purpose. Then ask yourself—does your current job allow you to live those values?

➡️ Clue: When your work aligns with your values, burnout is less likely because you're not constantly at odds with yourself.

3. What problems do I want to help solve?

Sometimes we obsess over titles, but purpose is found in the impact. Shift your lens from "What job do I want?" to "What issues do I want to be part of fixing?" Whether it's improving access to care, mentoring young professionals, designing better systems, or restoring work-life balance, your career becomes more meaningful when it’s tied to a mission.

➡️ Clue: The people and problems you feel most drawn to can reveal a career niche you haven’t yet considered.

4. What do I need to unlearn?

Before you move forward, it's essential to identify beliefs, fears, or habits holding you back. Maybe it’s the idea that your career must follow a linear path. Or that changing jobs means you're disloyal. Or that it’s too late. These narratives create noise that drowns out your next move.

➡️ Clue: Clarity often begins with letting go—so you can make space for what’s truly possible.

5. What is God showing me in this season?

For those of us who anchor our lives in faith, this question is foundational. Are you being called to trust more deeply? To take a bold leap? To pause and prepare? Sometimes our discomfort is a sign that God is stirring something new. And sometimes, it's His way of helping us release what no longer serves us.

➡️ Clue: Don’t rush clarity. Ask for spiritual direction and pay attention to how peace shows up (or doesn’t).

So… What’s Next?

The right next move is rarely found in a quick Google search or a one-size-fits-all career assessment. It’s found in intentional reflection, spiritual discernment, and strategic support.

If these questions stirred something in you, good. That means you’re ready for more than surface-level change. You’re ready for transformation.

You don’t have to navigate this crossroads alone. I help professionals like you uncover their career clarity, map out strategic next steps, and design a future they’re excited to step into. Sometimes the hardest part is just starting the conversation.

👉 Let’s connect and explore what your aligned career could look like. Whether you need coaching, tools, or a sounding board, I’m here to walk that journey with you.