As a new year begins, many of us take time to reflect on the past year and set resolutions for the next. Many resolutions focus on our health and losing the inches the holidays put on us. Although our physical health is undeniably important, also of great importance is our career health. Many people are suffering in careers they don’t find fulfilling. This is evident in recent data:
- A study by Pew Research Centre revealed that 37% of individuals are not very satisfied at work, and 12% are unhappy with their career choice.
- A survey by Telus Health reported that 1 in 5 people are considering leaving their job, with up to 38% desiring more control over their work-life.
- A study by BambooHR found that fewer and fewer individuals are willing to recommend their current employers to friends. For the past 3 years, this trend has remained consistent across various industries, largely as a consequence of reduced happiness in workers’ roles.
What is Career Health?
Career health is your overall satisfaction, engagement, and fulfillment with your current career. It is positively impacted by the alignment between the work that you do and your values, interests, talents, and personality.
Career health requires being active in managing your own career. We all have two jobs: one is the work we’re paid to do, and the other is managing “Me Inc.”, which is our own career. This involves making sure our work is meaningful and that we’re enjoying what we’re doing (versus feeling unfulfilled or just going through the motions or the “grind”). And remember that your career is not just your paid work, but includes other roles, such as volunteering and education.
I know first-hand about the importance of career health through having founded Canada Career Counselling in 2009, which has helped thousands of clients navigate their career decisions and seek fulfillment in their work lives through career counselling.
Our fulfillment or dissatisfaction in our careers impacts our overall wellbeing, and is tied to stress and burnout. A person’s career is a key component of their overall well-being and needs regular review and evaluation, much like their physical health.
Assess Your Career Health
In assessing your career health, it’s important to look at the past year as well as your current situation. Ask yourself what the past year was like – What did you learn and accomplish? What do you want to do next? Are your values, skills, and interests aligned with what you’re doing right now?
Some key questions to ask yourself as you assess your Career Health for the year ahead:
- Do I look forward to Monday mornings or do I dread the new workweek beginning?
- Do I find myself thinking about work during my personal time?
- Do I work for a boss who appreciates my work and supports my growth?
- Are my values, skills, and interests aligned with my current work?
- Is my workplace culture healthy and psychologically safe?
- Would I recommend my current employer and job to a friend?
- Does work keep me up worrying at night?
- Do I wish I had chosen a different career path?
Your answers to these questions will help inform whether you may need to shift one of the following aspects of your career:
- Change your position within your organization – try something new internally and report to a new manager.
- Move employers – perhaps it’s time for a change of scenery and to experience a new culture altogether.
- Change careers – consider exploring something different that will be more fulfilling, purposeful, and helpful for your growth.
- Shift your mindset – if your current situation is worth keeping, perhaps shifting your mindset and challenging yourself to continue to “grow in place” is the way to go.
I wish you the very best career health in 2024!
Dr. Laura Hambley is a thought leader on Career and Workplace Psychology, passionate about career development. She founded Canada Career Counselling in 2009, however has specialized in career development since 1999 through her Master’s research and counselling in different settings, including outplacement and career transition firms in Alberta.
Dr. Laura learned early on that effective career planning enhances wellbeing, confidence, and clarity in one’s work and life. Combining the expertise of Psychology with Career Counselling is what she sought to do as she founded and evolved Canada Career Counselling from Calgary to Toronto, Victoria, and Halifax, providing Career Counselling and Career Coaching to thousands of clients over many years.
Dr. Laura enjoys her work as a Career Counsellor and Career Coach to professionals who are in mid- or senior stages of their career, helping them navigate complex career decisions and pivots. Her extensive experience as an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist, enables her to understand and address the challenges faced by individuals, leaders, teams, and organizational cultures. Having consulted to a wide range of organizations since the late 1990s, and becoming a future of work thought leader, has enabled her to help individuals and organizations navigate the latest trends impacting today’s organizations.
Dr. Laura fulfilled her dream of having her own podcast in 2020, called Where Work Meets Life™, where she interviews experts globally on topics around career fulfillment and thriving humans and organizations. She is a sought-after keynote speaker for organizations, associations, conferences, and events.
In addition to her Master’s in Counselling Psychology (1999), Laura holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (2005) from the University of Calgary. She is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, as well as a member of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). She also contributes to teaching, supervision, and research as an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of Calgary.
For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: