Answer the questions below. 

• How satisfied are you with the way your career is developing?
• What do you like the most/the least about your current position?
• If you could have any job in the world, what would you choose and why?

Alita and Pete are discussing the questions above. Read (role play) their dialogue. Check out all the language you might not know. 

Alita: “Yo Pete, how’s it going? I’ve been thinking a lot about my career lately, and I’m not sure if I’m in the right place.”

Pete: “What’s been on your mind, Alita? Are you having doubts about your current job?”

Alita: “Yeah, I just feel like I’m not challenged enough in my role. And I don’t really like some of the tasks I have to do. But I don’t know what else I could see myself doing.”

Pete: “I hear ya. It can be tough to figure out what you want to do with your career. But let me ask you, what do you like the most about your job?”

Alita: “I love the people I work with. They’re all really cool and we get along great. But that’s about it, to be honest.”

Pete: “Well, that’s something. And what about the least? What don’t you like about your job?”

Alita: “I just feel like I’m not learning anything new, and I’m not contributing to the company in a meaningful way. It’s just a dead-end job, you know?”

Pete: “I understand where you’re coming from, but don’t give up hope just yet. If you could have any job in the world, what would you choose and why?”

Alita: “I’ve always been interested in sustainability and the environment. So if I could have any job, I’d want to work in a company that is making a real impact in that area. I want to feel like I’m making a difference.”

Pete: “That’s great, Alita. It’s important to find a job that aligns with your values and passions. Keep exploring and don’t be afraid to take risks. You’ll find the right path for you.”

Check the words and expressions in this Quizlet. Do you know them all? Do you know how to pronounce them?

Listen to the recording of the article. What is the main idea behind it?

Read the article you have just heard. Play the recording again and follow the speaker when you read. 

5 Questions to Guide Your Career Choices

Careers evolve and unfold over many years — even decades. So how can you be sure that you’re on the right path and you’ll achieve your definition of success? To take control of your future, step back and reflect on your present. Ask yourself the following five questions:

How fulfilled do I feel? This is often about whether you’re able to express your values at work. Identify what’s most important to you and then consider, “On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the ideal, how well am I able to express this value in my job?”

How am I learning and growing? To what extent are you building competence or expertise in your sector or function? What competencies do you want to develop further in the year ahead?

Am I headed toward a long-term goal? While everyone hates the question “Where do you want to be in 10 years?” stepping back to figure out a broad vision can help you pursue opportunities more proactively, versus reactively. You might ask yourself “What do I want in my (work) life in three to five years?” which is a more manageable chunk of time.

What seeds can I plant today that will benefit me tomorrow? Career success is often the result of the cumulative effects of small, regular actions.

What relationships do I need to build to help me realize my vision? You can’t do it alone, no matter what the “it” is. Given your goals, who are the people who can help you get there?

This tip is adapted from “Ask These 5 Questions to Decide Your Next Career Move,” by Rebecca Zucker

Answer the questions below. Refer to the information from the text and your own experience and opinions. 

• How can someone be sure they are on the right career path?
• What is the importance of expressing one’s values in a job?
• Why is it important to consider building competence and expertise in one’s sector or function?
• How can thinking about a long-term goal help in pursuing opportunities?
• What is the significance of planting seeds for future career success?
• Why are relationships important for realizing one’s career vision?
• How does the author suggest someone should evaluate their level of fulfillment in their job?
• How does the text suggest that one should approach setting short-term and long-term career goals?
• What are the 5 questions that someone should ask themselves to guide their career choices?

Practise some language for talking about being satisfied. 

Create some sentences with these words and idioms. How can you use them to describe your level of satisfaction?

Listen to the model answer provided by Pete. 

Cast your vote in this poll. 

How satisfied are you at work?