A Guide To Finding Your Career Niche This Year

Your career takes up a significant portion of your time each week. Most people work an average of 40 hours each week. If you’re going to spend that much time invested in a specific career, liking and enjoying your job is ideal. While you don’t have to love your job, it’s nice if you can be invested in a career that excites you. While there are many people who don’t delve deeply into their ideal career niche, you don’t have to be one of them. Consider these tips as a comprehensive guide to finding your career niche this year.

1. Learn About the Various Avenues and Opportunities

Sometimes, it takes research in order to learn about different needs within your industry. Take time to ask questions and talk to people within your industry. Oftentimes, people secure great jobs and experience upward mobility because they’re in the right rooms. They’re also talking to the right people. Get curious with your search. Begin to network and spark conversations with various people. As you develop relationships and learn about various opportunities such as conferences and symposiums, it’ll be easier for you to put the pieces together regarding what your specific niche is.

2. Uncover Your True Strengths

Self-awareness is a major strength, and it takes self-awareness to know what your strengths are. While you might like to believe you have certain strengths, you might not have them at all. Consider your soft skills. If you’re a natural motivator or an excellent mediator, those skills are strengths that can be applied. If you’re someone who’s resourceful and able to find answers quickly, that’s a strength that can shine in specific settings as well. As you consider the perfect niche for you, look at the ways your strengths can serve that niche. It’s also wise to be mindful of what your weaknesses are. When you know your weaknesses, you can know what to delegate. You don’t have to be strong at everything because no one is perfect.

3. Invest in Coaching

Coaching allows you to gain perspective, seek new visions and pursue different possibilities. You can’t see the picture when you’re in the frame. You only have your perspective. When you have a trained professional like a life coach or a career coach on your side, it’s easier to get an understanding of your blind spots. By investing in a coaching program, you’ll gain access to major assets like an excellent coaching niche quiz, accountability and much more. If you look at any notably successful public figure, they’ll admit that they have coaches for different areas of their lives.

4. Review Your Resume and Qualifications

As you learn more about what your desired career niche will be, make sure you’re qualified to take on that role. Do your research to see what certifications, educational experiences and skills people typically possess when they take that specific position. While there’s always room for growth, it’s good to prepare yourself for the role you want. If you need to secure a graduate degree, secure specific internships or get a few certifications, commit to the process.

5. Consider Your Own Passions and Interests

Take a closer look at what you’re actually passionate about. While hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard, you want to add passion to the mix. When you’re able to combine talent, hard work and passion, that’s an unstoppable trio. When you’re passionate about a specific topic, that desire can fuel you when challenges arise in your position. When you’re interested in a specific niche, you’ll know the intricate details that many people might not truly care about. However, there’s nothing like knowing someone cares about the career they’re working in. If a person needs brain surgery, they’re going to want a surgeon who’s passionate about every detail of the brain. They’ll want a surgeon who studies the brain and cranial procedures for fun. That passion will provide a different level of care and precision over someone who’s in the role because of the perceived prestige.

Conclusion

The process of uncovering your career specialties can provide its fair share of surprises and challenges. However, allow your curiosity to steer you in the right direction. As you meld your passions, your pain points and your industry’s gaps, you’ll be able to find your career’s sweet spot and thrive as the professional you’re meant to be.