Navigating your career should feel like you are on a treasure hunt. It is one of the greatest searches of your lifetime. You are the relentless Explorer.

A career presents various job paths, clues and problem-solving, teamwork and collaborative solutions, wrong turns and revised approaches. And, hopefully, rewarding outcomes.

Doesn’t that sound like the ultimate treasure hunt?

Unlike the standard format, however, with a career treasure hunt, you are both the game’s architect and player.

Design the Blueprint

The treasure hunt relies on a collection of blueprints as its navigation system. Successfully unlocking one blueprint will guide players along a new path which leads to a new set of clues and a new blueprint.

Plan milestones and career goal

Your first step should be to plot out the first version of your career map.

Ask yourself these questions:

Goal: Where do you want to go?

Transient Points: What types of job experiences would you like to have as you work towards that goal?

Keep in mind that depending on how you interpret and respond to the clues that appear in each career stage (the “transient point”), the destination (the “goal”) may need to be revised.

And in all likelihood, it will change. After all, life never unfolds exactly in the way we originally plan, does it?

Set map boundaries

Not limiting yourself in your career is exceedingly positive.

However, you do need to strike a balance in the discovery process.

Exercise some caution so that you are not flying haphazardly in every direction. This can be achieved by establishing boundaries on your career map.

For example, how far do you want to venture into the creative vs. technical vs. commercial landscape?

Also read: 6 Pieces of Career Advice to My Younger Self

Find and Interpret Clues

Discovering a clue on a treasure hunt is thrilling. Unlocking its meaning is even more exhilarating. This is the key that opens the door to a new path. Use it wisely.

Experiences inform.

On each stop of your career journey you must pay attention for signals. They’re often covert.

The prime areas where you need to look for green lights or red flags are:

Interest

• Which functions do you enjoy performing?
• Are there certain industry topics that stimulate you?
• What are the functional areas which bore you?

Aptitude

• What tasks do you excel at?
• What subject areas can you speak fluently on and defend your point of view?
• Where do you under-perform or visibly produce lackluster results?

Having these answers leads to a beautiful moment of clarity. The beauty of heightened awareness.

It is then time to act. Where do you go from here?

The decisions you make at this point matter.

Will you stay on the career track that you are on, or will you plot a new course?

Teamwork

Each treasure hunt consists of several teams. When you’re stumped by a clue, what a relief it is to be able to lean on collective brain power.  You can rely on input from group partners and swap ideas until you solve the puzzle. 

You can not decipher all of the clues along your career journey on your own. Nor can you successfully navigate the highs and lows solo.

Welcome opportunities for collaboration and feedback. Confer and exchange ideas with others. Improve your co-operative skills.

The beauty of working with folks from different backgrounds and schools of thought is: it will encourage you to think critically.

While there is certainly comfort in having like-minded individuals in your sphere, when it comes to problem-solving, it is advisable to invite folks of assorted backgrounds in.

Learning unique perspectives on the same subject helps to transform you into a well-rounded professional.

Also Read: 8 Lessons from Honeybees, Excellent Life Coaches

Be Aware of the Competition

Do you know how the other teams on the treasure hunt are faring?

Scope out the competitive landscape and understand the dynamics playing out in the industry.

Assess the comparative advantages and disadvantages. Where can you add value where the competition is not?

Sculpt the strategy for your next move based on your strengths. 

Avoid a copycat strategy. Lack of originality is hardly a winning formula for success.

Also read: Watch Cricket to Catch Lessons in Success, Not Runs

Enjoy the Journey 

There may be a lot of head-scratching involved but, overall, treasure hunts are incredibly exciting. They challenge your knowledge and lead you along uncharted courses.

Your job experiences should be invigorating. Your career should keep you on your toes.

Give this career treasure hunt continuous careful thought, and remember to have fun navigating your professional exploits. There’s thrill in the chase.

The Grand Prize

The treasure hunt team who follows the breadcrumbs and solves all of the clues will reach the prized destination. They collect a well-deserved trophy and celebrate their triumph!

In the process of pursuing your career ambitions, keep sight of the fact that the steps you take towards your goal should enrich both your skill set and your spirit. Achieving this is good cause for celebration.

At the conclusion of a career well-spent, it should feel like you hit the jackpot in your professional life.

Do you feel satisfied with your career progress to date? Are you excited for the next step?