Designing Your Next Professional Step: 3 Questions to Guide the Way
I attended a Women’s Leadership Conference last Thursday. During the event wrap-up, I was chatting with someone who disclosed, “I got DOGE-ed” when faced with the inevitable “So, what do you do?” question. I had never heard the Department of Government Efficiency agency acronym used as a verb, so I laughed at both the cleverness and absurdity. Having worked in under-resourced government environments with burned-out staff, I can say that too much efficiency was rarely a problem—especially not while standing in line at a DMV. Nonetheless, I digress.
We continued chatting and eventually joined a small group of women at an outdoor table. The “so what’s next” question became the hot topic. Three of the six of us were figuring out next professional steps, and two of us were small business owners who ask ourselves that question regularly. The woman who got DOGE-ed said she was thinking about transitioning into nonprofit work. Another was narrowing down areas of production she wanted to pursue, and the last shared how she was enjoying a cocktail on the beach earlier in the day as she went into month eight of her professional sabbatical—feeling no rush to commit to anything, thanks to her negotiated severance.
The conversation ebbed and flowed as each person presented different perspectives on navigating the uncertainty in life and career transitions. It reminded me of the many people I’ve supported—myself included—not only as a career coach but throughout my varied work experiences. I’m 41, and currently navigating my third career path. While I don’t claim to have all the answers, nor do I believe there is one “right” way to live it, my training and expertise equipped me to ask thoughtful questions to guide this journey. So, just as I did with this insightful group, I am excited to share these reflections with you.
Whether you’re considering a job change, just got DOGE-ed, or are a full-time caregiver or home manager returning to the workforce—here are three questions to ask yourself before taking your next big step.
How am I making space for rest in this process? This one is hard. I get it—especially when you’re stressed about paying rent or your mortgage next month. Regardless of how you ended your last job, the immediate impulse is often to jump from your last day of work into full-time job searching. But, this can trigger a new cycle of stress, despair, and burnout. Let’s face it—the job search is rarely joyful, especially when employers are inundated with applications and it feels like you’re invisible. It’s a lot!
So, whether it’s one day or one year—take the rest you need. We work hard, and figuring out “what’s next” can be all-consuming. It’s not just wise but necessary to give your body and mind some space to decompress, reflect, and recharge before diving into the chaos of job searching. Take a nap, go for a bike ride, or if you need to—hide in your closet with the mini-fridge. (Shoutout to the woman I know who does exactly that when she needs a break from her kids!) Give yourself permission to pause, breathe, and just be. It’ll all get figured out—if nothing else, because it has to.
What do I want and need—and not want or need—out of life? For many of us who don’t know what we want to be when we grow up, choosing a next job or career path can be especially overwhelming. If you find yourself unsure about what’s next or defaulting to the usual answer—well-paying job with remote flexibility, health insurance, nice boss—try thinking beyond that. Focusing on the professional side sets you up for a cycle of having a job and not a life. Instead, consider what you want and need over the next few years of life—your personal interests, family commitments, health, caregiving responsibilities, passions, and priorities.
Once you’ve done that and start thinking about the professional parts, get specific. Don’t just say, “I want to earn $10k more a year because I was underpaid.” Instead, try, “I need enough to cover my rent, utilities, farmers market overspend, and student loans, while increasing my retirement contributions by 5%, and saving $300 a month for travel.” Or, instead of, “I don’t want a close-minded boss with a bunch of pointless meetings,” try instead, “I want to work for a manager that promotes mental health days, flexible time off for caregiving my parents, and accommodates my neurodiversity.” The more clarity you have, the easier it becomes to weed out opportunities that don’t align with your needs—and invest time into the ones that do.
What are my strengths and skillsets? I love asking a client who arrives mid-job search about their strengths and skillsets. Usually, I get a mix of subject matter expertise or industry-specific skills based on their last job or career. While expertise is important, it’s not the same as knowing your personal strengths and transferable skillsets.
Skillsets are demonstrable abilities and tools that you use to perform tasks or solve problems.
Strengths are innate, well-developed personal qualities that influence how you do things and where you shine.
Subject matter expertise is deep, experience-based knowledge in a specific field or topic.
In a nutshell: skillsets are what you do, strengths are how you do it, and subject matter expertise is what you know. Think deeply about what makes you YOU! This self-awareness is foundational for developing and communicating your personal brand and staying competitive in a saturated job market. Subject matter expertise doesn’t have to be at the core of your next job choice—employers increasingly value strengths and skillsets, so start and keep digging until you find your answers.
Regardless of how you move forward, give yourself permission to pause, reflect, and strategically plan your next steps. Want to submit 90 job applications right off the bat? Do it. If that’s not your style or isn’t yielding the results you want, maybe try another approach—like hiring a career coach to help you. (I love helping people ask powerful questions, leverage tools, and shift mindsets to step boldly into a next phase of life as the badass they truly are—while still recognizing that rent still needs to get paid!)
Until next time, y’all—live, work, learn by design, not default.
