A career is not filling a certain position in some organisation. It is not only a job or an occupation but rather a journey as you grow and contribute to something bigger. A job is organisation-focused but a career is individual-focused. It is a very common phenomenon for people to see their careers as devoting themselves to a job where they draw pay from. Whilst this is not wrong as we strive to take care of our basic needs of bringing bread and butter home, a perspective of seeing your job as part of a bigger picture makes your career life much more interesting and meaningful. Having a meaningful career helps in productivity and motivates you to be a better person inside and outside your work. You can make your career more meaningful by looking at work in a more holistic light.

Know Your Strengths & Weaknesses

Different individuals behave differently. Each of us have different talents and eccentricities as well. By knowing your strengths and weaknesses, you can better cater to your career growth by using your strengths to your advantage and and working to minimize the weaknesses you have. Knowing yourself well saves you pain from doing the things you like to do least and allows you do what you like most. Being clear on this will allow you and your superiors to utilize you to the best for the organisation and at the same time, not compromising your career development.

Know what you want

All of us have different needs. Whilst some people have great desire to climb the corporate ladder and be recognised, there are others who want to be rich. And yet also, there are people who find great in giving back to society even though they would not be paid much. Knowing your needs allow you to come to terms with how much you are willing to sacrifice for your career. Your goals will drive you to have a more meaningful career as you achieve milestones along the way.

Plan your career progression

Most of us try to better ourselves and hope to be recognized during our career progression. Planning our career progression is important in setting goals and milestones. This is so that we keep to a certain
timeline and make sure we improve along the way. Planning for progression does not mean your career will be smooth or be as expected as you plan it. Planning only gives a rough guide and may amend along the way due to more opportunitistic routes. As such, career planning ought to be done regularly to see milestones are met or any adaptation is need for a more aligned career growth.

Develop yourself

Improving of oneself is important in giving meaning to your career. As new skillsets are picked up, more opportunities may present themselves. You would find that learning makes a career more meaningful as you gain more knowledge to contribute better wherever you go.

Network

No man is an island. Nearly everyone needs a community for support and to contribute. In this society, synergy is important and you can tap on an extensive network of friends to booster your career. Having a great network allows you to learn more, set up meaningful partnerships and add value to whatever you do. Networking also allows good feedback on the work you have done and allows you to improve yourself.

A career can be flexible and very rewarding if you know what you want and focus on the necessary. Most of all, don't let a job bog you down but let it be a career that propells you to a more fruitfuland meaningful life.

Learn more about this author, Paul Immanuel.
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