Recently, I was connected with an experienced nonprofit leader whose career trajectory had led her to higher education and international study abroad programs. But now she had children of her own, and wanted to do work closer to home focused on K-12 education and wasn’t quite sure how to find local opportunities that matched her new interest. We spent a lot of time talking about the ways she could participate in local education initiatives, volunteer her time for nonprofit organizations in her town, and network with leaders in her community to better understand the landscape of roles and organizations connected to her new interest.

What job and career are the optimal fit for you, the one you’ll leap out of bed for (most days, at least) and enjoy contributing to all week long? As a recruiter, I encourage job-seekers to start with what they most value and love (see previous post) because it’s such an important frame to put around our options. Too many of us stumble into our jobs and careers, following a throughline from what our parents encouraged to what we studied in college to the connections we have formed since.

"How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives." -- Annie Dillard

As a longtime recruiter, I have multiple conversations with individuals each week about their current and future career path. For many of these folks, their work and skills are clear but their future feels opaque and uncertain. Even the most seasoned executives get stuck in what is expected or typical, and lose sight of new and potentially more fulfilling ways to put their talents and personal “superpowers” to best use.