xxx SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONSFind your values, strengths and passions,

and the right career for you.

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS Find your values, strengths and passions, and the right

career for you.

How do you figure out which career is right for you? Where should you even start looking?

The first step in the career exploration process is knowing yourself. The more you understand yourself and your motivations, the more informed and productive your career search process will be, and the more likely you'll find a career that is the best fit for you.

A good place to start is by identifying your values, strengths and passions, and our list of 20 self-discovery questions will help you do just that.

Melanie Fieseler www.workhappymums.comCareer Consultant

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

If you have spent many years caught up in the whirlwind journey of motherhood, it might take a while for you to figure out what you really want to do and be moving forward. That’s okay. Invest in your future self by giving yourself the time and the space to take a step back, dig deep and dream big.

It’s never too late to start living the life you’d imagined!

How to get the most out of th is exercise

• Find some chi ld- f ree quiet t ime (yes, I know i t ’s d i ff icul t but you CAN do i t ! ) .

• Turn off your phone and computer, completely unplug and be distract ion f ree.

• Relax and let your imaginat ion run wi ld. Think of a l i fe fu l l of possibi l i t ies, wi thout any l imi tat ions or fear.

• Try to be brutal ly honest wi th yoursel f .

• Don’ t overthink your answers. Just go wi th your gut response.  

• I f you don’ t  have  an answer   to  each quest ion, just go on the next one. You can always come back to th is exercise.

Melanie Fieseler www.workhappymums.comCareer Consultant

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

Ready?

Ready to start uncover ing your values, strengths and passions?

Do i t by answering these 20 quest ions:

1. Descr ibe your ideal day. How would you spend your t ime, i f money wasn’ t an issue?

2. What makes you feel useful , exci ted, inspired?

3. What do you l ike most about yoursel f?

4. What are you most proud of? ( th ink achievements, ta lents, personal character ist ics etc.)

5. What do other people say you’re good at?

6. In the past, when you have received performance reviews from your managers, what qual i t ies in you did they acknowledge/praise?

7. What is the compl iment or acknowledgment you hear most of ten about yoursel f?

8. What do you do (or have done in the past) that you enjoy and causes you to be so absorbed that you lose al l t rack of t ime (act iv i t ies, hobbies, interests etc)?

9. Do people ever ask you for advice? I f so, on what?

10. I f you volunteer, what types of causes/act iv i t ies are you general ly drawn toward?

Melanie Fieseler www.workhappymums.comCareer Consultant

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

11. What  comes  so  natural ly   to  you   that  you   th ink   i t ’s  “normal”  or  everyone  can  do   i t?  

12. What could you talk about nonstop?

13. What do you most enjoy studying or learning about?

14. What would you l ike to be known for both personal ly and professional ly?

15. What inspirat ions or great ideas you’ve had over the years that you haven’ t acted on?

16. I f you could take a s ix-month sabbat ical f rom your current job ( i f you have one), what would you do?

17. When you envis ion a future in which you would feel fu l f i l led and sat isf ied, what are some of the features of your l i fe?

18. What would you descr ibe as the “peak moments” – t imes when you fel t inspired, invigorated, or successful – in your personal and professional l i fe? Descr ibe the detai ls – who were you with, what were you doing? What made them peak moments?

19. What is i t that you would most regret not accompl ishing by the t ime you are 65?

20. What would you try i f you knew you couldn’ t fa i l?

Melanie Fieseler www.workhappymums.comCareer Consultant

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

What’s next?Next i t ’s t ime to ref lect . Look for themes that ar ise.   Are you most engaged when you are connect ing wi th people and col laborat ing?   Then teamwork or support f rom others could be what matters most to you, and something to put on your ‘must have’ l is t of requirements when consider ing a new job or career.   Do you draw your energy f rom fast paced, resul ts focused  environments?   This may ref lect values of  performance  or chal lenge are key to your fu l f i lment in a part icular ro le, and another i tem on your ‘must have’ l is t .

Then ask yoursel f the quest ion, “What k ind of ro le would al low me to use the ski l ls that are so innate that when I use them, they don’ t feel l ike work?” Finding a new job where you can f lex these ski l ls to the max wi l l be the most l ikely to lead to a rewarding and ful f i l l ing career.

Other recommended resources

If you’d l ike to fur ther explore your values, strengths and passions, here are three recommended resources:

• MyPlan Values Assessment, a f ree assessment tool where you get a ranked l is t of your most and least important career values.

• Work Values Checkl ist , a short values inventory found on monster.com.

Melanie Fieseler www.workhappymums.comCareer Consultant

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

• Gal lup’s Cl i f ton StrengthsFinder Assessment, an onl ine strengths f inder tool .

We would love to know how you got on wi th th is exercise. Please do emai l us and let us know what you discovered about yoursel f , and what you think your values, strengths and passions might be.

And i f you need more support f inding the r ight career for you, we’d love for you to jo in our next JumpStart Your Career coaching programme. Drawing on our proven 4-step career change model, the programme is a powerful and focused way to get to the heart of what you want in your career, and make i t happen in just three onl ine (Skype video) coaching sessions. You wi l l come away with a personal ised Career Change Act ion Plan guaranteed to get you where you want to be, and a sense of conf idence, enthusiasm, and exci tement about the future. Plus, you wi l l have that great ‘can do’ feel ing that comes from working in a support ive group of l ike-minded mums who are commit ted to making the most of what ’s next in their careers and l ives. Find out al l the detai ls, and read what other mums have to say about the programme here.

About Melanie Fieseler, Director Work Happy Mums

I am both a business woman and an expert on women in business, as well as being a mother of two.

I launched Work Happy Mums in 2013, based on my firm belief that every woman should have the opportunity to fulfil their career potential, without having to compromise in their personal lives. Since

Melanie Fieseler www.workhappymums.comCareer Consultant

20 SELF-DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

then Work Happy Mums has become the go-to resource for return-to- work professional women and career advancers.

In the challenging professional world, our small team of expert consultants and coaches are there to support, guide, advise, to be your champion and advocate. Whether it is going back to work after a career break, trying to negotiate more flexible work hours, or helping you become a driver and leader in business, we are with you every step of the way.

Visit Work Happy Mums to find out more about us and the programmes we offer, and get in touch today to schedule your complimentary Career Assessment to see how we can help you fulfil both your professional and personal goals.

Because at the heart of it all, we firmly believe in the power of these four words: ‘YOU CAN DO IT!’

Melanie FieselerCareer Consultant

hello@melaniefieseler.comwww.workhappymums.com

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Melanie Fieseler www.workhappymums.comCareer Consultant