We audit all kinds of things in life:
We check our finances to make sure we’re on track. We get our cars inspected regularly to stay safe on the road. We go to the doctor for check ups.
Even if nothing SEEMS wrong, we still do it. Because little problems can build up quietly over time.
But how often do we do that for our careers?
We just keep going. New role, new challenge, new round of restructuring. Until something feels off. A rattle. A slow leak in motivation.
Maybe you’re not crashing. Maybe you’re just cruising. But you feel like you’re not exactly thriving either.
That’s when a career audit can be helpful.
A simple way to look back at your past roles, spot the patterns, and ask:
What’s energising me now? Where am I wearing thin?
Because just like with money, or your car, or your health, the earlier you notice what’s out of alignment, the easier it is to make adjustments.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through a set of questions to help you take stock, so you can feel not just functional in your career… but conscious about what might need changing.
Public Sector Leader, Have You Ever Done a Career Audit?
If not, you may be long overdue. But don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds!
A career audit is simply a chance to pause, reflect and take stock.
It’s a structured way to revisit your previous roles and ask yourself the same set of questions for each one.
Through this process, you can identify themes around:
- What you like
- What you don’t like
- Your strengths
- What you need to succeed
Just like other audits you’ll be familiar with in your professional and private life, it’s a good idea to do this regularly.
As a leader in the public sector, you’re used to reviewing systems, strategies, or outcomes to make sure they’re still aligned with their goals.
This is the same idea.
Except the system you’re reviewing… is YOU.
Like any good audit, the purpose isn’t to judge. It’s to get curious. To notice patterns.
And to make intentional choices before things veer too far off course.
Here are …
5 Powerful Questions For Your Career Audit:
- What were the factors that drew you to your past roles?
- What were your most rewarding accomplishments?
- What positive feedback did you receive from others (colleagues, managers, stakeholders)?
- What kind of environment were you in? (Who was around you? What was the physical space like?)
- What were the tasks you enjoyed most? (List them out, the big and the small things)
There are other things you could consider, but this is a good list to get you going.
This kind of reflection is particularly useful if:
- you’re starting a job search
- you’re considering a career shift but don’t know yet what you want to do, or
- you feel off-course and want to reconnect with yourself and what makes your heart sing
So often, we look outside ourselves for clarity. But your past holds clues about what your future could be – if you’re willing to pay attention.
Until next time: make space, rediscover you, and then take action.