Learn more about your professional possibilities.
Many people reach a stage in their careers when they just aren’t sure what choices are available or appropriate for them. The exploratory option requires seeking the answers to such questions as “What else can I do?” The goal here is to collect the information necessary to decide how best to build your career.
Through exploration, you identify other positions that match your skills, interests and values. This exploration can be done through short term job assignments, temporary task force participation, or informational interviews. In today’s unpredictable world, no one’s position is so secure that you can afford to be unaware of your alternatives. Exploratory activities can also clarify whether your career aspirations are realistic. They may even validate the growth potential of your present job.
Knowing what your alternatives are, within or outside of your organization, gives you a sense of personal control over your career. You are less likely to feel trapped or disempowered in your current job situation when actively exploring other options.