The phone rings, and you’re foolish enough to answer.
“Hey, buddy, I can’t get my maps app to load. Can you give me directions to the mall?”
“Um, I’ll try. Which mall?”
“I need to buy some pants.”
“Okay, but which mall?”
“You know the one. Shouldn’t be that hard to figure it out.”
“But which mall? And where are you at now?”
“The one with all the stores. I don’t think I’m that far away.”
“Oh my god, do you have any details at all?”
“I remember it has a big parking lot.”
—
Imagine being on the receiving end of a call like this. Aside from wanting to bang your head through a wall, you’d probably be wondering how on earth your friend expects to get anywhere. The only thing they know is that they want new pants.
Career Planning in Latin America
Would you believe that there are millions of people across Latin America who approach their careers the exact same way?
They’ve got a professional dream. Maybe they want to open their own business or become a freelancer. But they aren’t sure of the details. Maybe they don’t feel totally confident that it’s doable. Maybe there are obstacles in the way. Maybe they feel like it’s a “someday” thing.
For many people, the answer to this uncertainty is simply to jump in with both feet and hope for the best. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” as they say. But we have a sneaking suspicion that you would rather be more strategic than that.
So let’s talk about the two biggest mistakes people make when trying to get from where they are now, which we’ll call Point A, to where they want to be, which we’ll call Point B.
Mistake #1: They aren’t sure where they’re headed
The thing about “Point B” is that it’s a point. Not a zone, not a region.
But when people make career goals, they often keep things vague without even being aware of it. That makes it really hard to actually work toward the goal.
Here are some examples:
“I want to own my own business”
vs.
“I want to start an online store that sells organic treats and toys to high-income pet owners”
“I want to make more money”
vs.
“I want to increase my income by getting three new certifications in my field and then applying for a new job with employers who are known to offer higher wages”
“I want to play pro soccer”
vs.
“I want to become a professional soccer player and qualify to play as a forward for Real Madrid”
Looking at the left column versus the right, which version seems more realistic? Which do you think the person is more likely to accomplish?
According to research across various industries, the more specific a goal is, the more likely it is to lead to success.
For example, the psychologists Edwin Locke and Gary Latham pioneered goal-setting theory. Over numerous research studies, they consistently found that having specific goals helps people focus, stay motivated, and measure their progress better. And all of that leads to a higher chance of completing the goal.
Why do so many people make vague goals? They might be…
- Overwhelmed by the available choices
- Unsure of their own strengths, passions, or values
- Bogged down by outside pressures or stress
- Afraid of committing to the goal
- Missing key information related to the goal
- Insecure about whether they can really make it happen
Life in Latin America is notoriously uncertain. Every day has surprises. Disappointments happen all too often. Entire job markets can change suddenly, thanks to political and societal upheaval. Sometimes it might feel pointless to make a really specific goal, if you know from experience that most things don’t go according to plan.
But you know what? We believe the exact opposite. The more uncertain life is, the more important it is to have a crystal clear idea of what your goals are. That’s the only way you can create backup plans to recover when things (almost inevitably) get off track. And if having a more specific goal helps spark your motivation and keep it hot, all the better!
Three Steps for Clarifying Your Career Vision
1. Write down your career goal. Start with a simple rough draft of what you’ve been thinking about. Getting your thoughts out of your head is a great way to push things forward. Not only can it help jog some fresh ideas, but it will also reveal gaps or issues with your plan. (Also, writing by hand can be a great way to trigger your creative thinking!)
2. Ask the five Ws (and an H). To get more specific about your goal, act like a journalist for a few minutes and interview yourself.
- What exactly is your goal?
- When do you want to accomplish it by?
- Who else will be involved?
- Where will it take you?
- Why do you want this? And most importantly…
- How will you make it happen?
3. Research and refine. Once you’ve got those answers incorporated into your goal, take a minute to reflect. Go back and make a note of any details like specific schools, programs, employers, skills, locations, processes, resources…. Then do a few searches and read up on them. When you find info that gives shape to your goal, add it to your document.
If this is a goal that you intend to act on, putting these specifics in writing will help you stop dreaming and start planning.
Mistake #2: They aren’t sure where they’re starting from
Not only do people struggle to define their Point B clearly, but they often don’t really know their Point A. They don’t have a solid, accurate view of themselves or their situation. And that makes it incredibly hard to make a realistic plan. After all, how can you set out on a journey if you don’t actually know where you are in relation to your destination? How would you even know what direction to head in?
If someone doesn’t know their Point A, that might mean that:
- They don’t know what their strengths are
- They’re overconfident about their abilities
- They don’t know which skills they need to develop to make their goal
- They aren’t conscious of what they value most in life
- They don’t know what kind of work environment they would really thrive in
- They’re reacting to social pressure, rather than following a dream of their own
- They aren’t being honest with themselves about what they truly want
- They have imposter syndrome and doubt their capabilities
- They’re unaware of recent changes in their industry
- They don’t understand what employers or clients are looking for
- They’re lacking crucial soft skills that would make them more valuable in the workplace
- They’ve never received (or understood) constructive feedback from coworkers or clients
Let’s consider a few examples:
Alex is 25 and recently graduated from college with a degree in business administration. He’s an extrovert who loves to talk. He knows how smart he is, and he believes that the best way to get a job is to insist that he can handle any problem that arises, no matter what it is. But after six interviews, he hasn’t received a single job offer. Alex doesn’t realize that employers find his confidence off-putting, given how little experience he has working in the business world.
Laura is 34 with three children who are now all in school. She’s quite bright and eager to learn, but she doesn’t know how to demonstrate that to prospective employers. She’d love to do work that’s intellectually challenging but not too chaotic. But she has no idea what kind of job that might be or what specific skills would be needed. Laura is finding it hard to build any momentum in her job search, because she has so little info to start with.
Nico is 44 whose long-time job as a data analyst was recently automated out of existence. He feels quite a lot of pressure because of his family’s needs and expectations, so he wants to start his next career right away. Whatever will pay the bills! He’s so focused on the need for speed that he’s having trouble truly adapting to his situation. After all, changing careers in mid-life is no small thing. What Nico really needs is some time to explore the current job market, round out his skills, and network.
These people all have lots to offer, but there are barriers that prevent them from really digging in and getting started.
The good news is that, with a bit of time and effort, you can discover your Point A.
Three Steps for Knowing Where You Are Now
To know your Point A, you need to know yourself and have at least some objective sense of what you’re capable of. This might take some bravery. After all, the average person prefers to stay comfortable simply believing whatever feels good. But if you’ve got an ambitious career goal, being honest with yourself about where you are now will be a huge help.
1. Take online assessments, such as the Myers-Briggs personality test and the CliftonStrengths assessment to know where your strengths lie.
2. Inventory your experience. Write down not just the jobs you’ve held, but what you accomplished at each of them. Do the same for hobbies and any other life experiences that might be relevant in the workplace. What did you contribute? What did others respond well to?
3. List what you’re good at and not so good at. We’ve all got strengths and weaknesses—nobody’s perfect! Being able to admit where your strengths lie is a great first start to figuring out how to get to your Point B. If you’re having trouble gauging what’s what, think of it in terms of “What do I enjoy?” and “What drags me down?”
This will take a bit of time, but the return on investment will be immense! Simply knowing yourself will put you ahead of the pack as you begin to work toward your career goal.
Conclusion
The more you care about your goal, the more thought and planning you should put toward understanding your Point A and your Point B. The fact that you’re even thinking in these terms means you’re already making progress!
Give yourself some time—and the space to make some mistakes. You’re going to learn a lot along the way.
