How to Find Your Career Narrative (And Why It Matters)

If you are feeling lost or unfulfilled in your career, it might be time to take a step back and examine your career narrative. 

Okay. Career what??? 

We all have multiple narratives in our lives. You have a narrative about what kind of daughter you are, what kind of friend, significant other, spouse, employee, etc. 

But do you know what your career narrative is? 

Your career narrative is the story you tell yourself and others about your professional journey, and it can have a huge impact on your job satisfaction and success. 

So let’s dive into how you can find, redefine, and project your career narrative! 

What is your current career narrative? 🤔

Take some time to reflect on the story you currently tell about your professional life. 

👉🏿 Evaluate how you describe your job. What do you say when someone asks you what you do for a living? Do you focus on the day-to-day tasks of your job, or do you talk about the bigger picture and the impact you’re making? 

Focusing on your day-to-day tasks may be factually accurate, but focusing on the bigger picture and your personal impact tells a more compelling story that highlights the importance and value of your work. 

👉🏿 Reflect on your achievements and challenges. Are you proud of your story or do you feel like it’s lacking? What are you most proud of in your professional life? What are the biggest obstacles you’ve faced? How have you grown and developed as a professional over time? 

By looking at your achievements and challenges, you can start to see patterns in your career narrative. For example, if you’ve overcome significant obstacles to get where you are, your story could include perseverance and resilience. If you’ve achieved a lot in a short amount of time, your story could include ambition and drive. 

👉🏿 Consider your values and motivations. What do you value most in your work? Is it making a difference in people’s lives, having a flexible schedule, or being part of a dynamic team? What motivates you to keep going when things get tough? 

By understanding your values and motivations, you can start to see how they fit into your career narrative. For example, if you value work-life balance and have made career choices based on that value, your story might be one of prioritizing your well-being. If you’re motivated by the impact you make on others, your story might be one of service and purpose. 

These are all important questions to consider as you assess your current career narrative. 

What do you want your career narrative to be? 🤷🏽‍♂️

Now that you’ve examined your current story, it’s time to think about what you want your career narrative to be. 

📌 Dream big and visualize your ideal career. Imagine that you have no constraints, no limitations, and no worries. What would your ideal job look like? What tasks would you be doing? What tasks would you NOT be doing? Who would you be working with? What would be the impact of your work?

By dreaming big and visualizing your ideal career, you can start to get a sense of what you truly want. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and consider careers that you may have never thought of before. The sky’s the limit! 

📌 Identify your strengths and passions. Once you’ve imagined your dream job, it’s time to identify your strengths and passions. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? What kind of work makes you feel energized and engaged? 

By understanding your strengths and passions, you can start to see how they align with your dream job. For example, if you’re passionate about helping others and have a talent for problem-solving, you might want to consider a career in social work or counseling. 

📌 Research and explore your options. After you’ve identified your strengths and passions, it’s time to research and explore your options. This might involve talking to people in your desired field, attending conferences or events, or shadowing professionals in your dream job. 

By researching and exploring your options, you can get a better sense of what your ideal career actually looks like in practice. You might discover that there are some aspects of your dream job that don’t align with your strengths or values, or you might find that there are unexpected opportunities that you hadn’t considered before.

This is your chance to dream big and think outside the box. 

Your new career narrative doesn’t have to be a complete departure from your current reality, but it should be something that excites and motivates you. 

How to rewrite your narrative to further your career 💭

Once you have a clear vision of your ideal career narrative, it’s time to start making it a reality. 

This might involve taking concrete steps to change your job, such as updating your resume, networking with new people, or pursuing additional education or training. 

It might also involve reframing your current situation and finding ways to focus on the parts of your job that align with your new narrative. 

For example, if you want to move into a leadership role but are currently in an entry-level position, you might focus on building your leadership skills through volunteer work or taking on extra responsibilities at your current job. 

Here are some practical steps to keep in mind:

➡️ Identify your unique value proposition. What sets you apart from others in your field? What skills and experience do you have that make you an asset to any team or organization?

Start by taking a hard look at your past accomplishments and current strengths to identify your unique value proposition. This will be the foundation of your career narrative, so be sure to give it the attention it deserves. 

➡️ Craft an elevator pitch. Once you have your unique value proposition in hand, it’s time to craft your elevator pitch. This is a brief, compelling statement that summarizes your career story and what you have to offer in just a few sentences. 

Practice your pitch until you can deliver it with confidence and ease, and be ready to use it whenever you meet new people or have an opportunity to talk about your career. 

➡️ Use storytelling techniques. One of the most powerful ways to amplify your career narrative is by using storytelling techniques. This means framing your career journey in a way that engages and inspires others. 

Focus on the challenges you’ve overcome, the lessons you’ve learned, and the impact you’ve had on your industry or organization. Use vivid language and concrete examples to make your story come alive.

➡️ Leverage social media. Social media is an excellent platform for amplifying your career narrative. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and showcases your skills and achievements. 

Share articles, thought leadership pieces, and other content that aligns with your professional brand. Consider starting a blog or vlog to share your insights and experiences with others. 

➡️ Seek out speaking opportunities. If you’re daring, speaking at conferences, events, and webinars is a great way to share your career story with a wider audience.

Seek out opportunities to speak on topics that align with your expertise and interest, and be sure to promote your appearances on social media and other channels. 

Remember, your career narrative is yours to write. You have the power to change your story at any time and to create a professional journey that excites and fulfills you. 

Take some time to reflect on your current story, dream up a new one, and start taking steps to make it a reality. You’ve got this! 

👇🏿 Tyche Takeaways 👇🏿

• Your career narrative is the story you tell yourself and others about your job. 
• Your career narrative can have a huge impact on how you see your current work, your goals, and your impact.
• Evaluate your current career narrative by considering how you describe your job and whether you’re proud of your story. 
• Define your ideal career narrative by dreaming big and thinking about what kind of work would excite and fulfill you. 
• Rewrite your narrative by taking concrete steps to change your job or reframing your current citation to align with your new story.