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Career Optimization Resource Guide

Whether you are a career starter, career changer, or career advancer, it’s essential to reflect on your motivations and career goals for why you are pursuing your master’s degree. Determining your motivations is key to accomplishing the career you want and the lifestyle you desire. Taking some devoted time to explore and reflect on what you want to achieve with your master’s degree in relation to your career trajectory will help you to mentally prepare and sustain inspiration during your grad school journey. Below, we offer some helpful resources that you may find beneficial regardless of where you are in your career to help you define your motivations and set your goals as you follow your dream.

Find your Ikigai -> Find your Why

Ikigai (pronounced “eye-ka-guy”) is a Japanese concept that means ‘reason for being.’ Your Ikigai is your life purpose and framework for optimizing your career and lifestyle. It brings you joy and inspires you daily and throughout your life. Ikigai includes four intersecting elements – beautifully combining what you love and what you’re good at with what you can get paid for and what the world needs.

Take 10 minutes and try out these career assessments to help you optimize your career choices.

Career Assessments

  • Truity: Take the Career Personality Profiler assessment to determine insights into your work style and career interests.
  • 16Personalities: Find out which personality type you align with to learn what careers and work environments will be most fulfilling and what kinds of work will motivate you to perform your best.
  • Careerfitter: Complete this helpful Career Test and determine which careers fit your personality strengths and what jobs fit you best.

“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.”

-James Clear, Atomic Habits

Career Optimization Books

It’s worth spending one week exploring a career optimization book that can help you define your purpose. Pressed for time? Download an audio version and listen to your book first thing in the morning or on your commute.

Career Starters & Career Changers:

We recommend these books if you’re starting your career or considering pivoting your career.
  • What Color Is Your Parachute?: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success by Richard N. Bolles.
  • Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One by Jenny Blake.
  • Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type
    by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron, and Kelly Tieger.
Career Advancers:

We recommend these books if you’re looking for advice on advancing your career in your current field.

  • The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting UP to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael D. Watkins.
  • Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
  • Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown

“A career pivot is methodically shifting in a new direction by doubling down on what’s already working.”

– Jenny Blake, Pivot

Career Blogs:

Once you’ve had a chance to explore your career interests through assessments and exploring a career book, consider these useful blogs for relevant career advice tailored to your needs.

“Choose courage over comfort. Choose whole hearts over armor. And choose the great adventure of being brave and afraid at the exact same time.”

– Brené Brown, Dare to Lead

We hope these resources are helpful to you on your career journey. Remember that career optimization is a lifelong process. Take the next step and follow your career dream.

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