From Disruption to Direction: 4 Key Question Areas to Set Yourself Up for Your Next Job

Remember that childhood game, “Heads Up, Seven Up” ... the one where you put your head down, thumb up, and waited to see if someone would tap you? Everything was calm and still… until it wasn’t. That is what this season can feel like for many professionals right now. It is not chaos, but it is change. May 2025 has arrived with a sense of transition in the air, not just for some companies but is being felt more globally. For some, it feels like the apple cart has been nudged, or the fruit basket quietly rearranged. You might have felt secure in your role, steady in your team, or clear in your trajectory and then something shifted. Whether through restructuring, acquisition, shifting priorities, increased demands, changing roles, or unexpected leadership changes, you may now find yourself suddenly needing to consider your next step.

Whether unexpected or overdue, a job change can leave you disturbed, stressed, and unsettled. Below are four areas of questions that will help you regain focus, clarify your direction, and take strategic next steps.  Maybe you are a student looking for summer work, someone laid off, someone in a bad work situation that needs to find a new job and exit, a company closed, a role eliminated... whatever it is, change happens. You will do better when you see this through the lens of prosperity and opportunity than sacristy and stain, but it can be challenging, and the struggle is real. It is frustrating to apply endlessly for jobs and not hear back. It is challenging to not find openings in your area of expertise. It is discouraging when it seems like “no one” is hiring. Having the right focus and mindset is essential.  

I often compare the job search process to the experience of dropping a contact lens on the floor. When you know exactly what you are looking for, you can focus your efforts and even enlist others to help: “I dropped my contact lens; can you help me find it?” Despite its small size and the challenge of spotting a clear item, everyone knows what they are searching for. In contrast, if you are unsure of what you are looking for and say, “I lost something,” it becomes nearly impossible to identify the object, even if it is right in front of you. This lack of clarity not only hampers your own search but also makes it difficult for others to assist you effectively.

The same principle applies to job searching. Without a clear understanding of the role, industry, or company culture you are targeting, your search can become aimless. You might find yourself questioning each opportunity: “Is this the right fit? I am not sure.” This uncertainty can lead to prolonged job searches, during which financial pressures may mount, leading to feelings of desperation and scarcity. Such emotions can cloud judgment and result in accepting positions that are not aligned with your goals. Additionally, as the frustration and confusion grow, people naturally isolate themselves as they feel discouraged and their support system weakens in knowing how to help so move on to other things that have better clarity and definition. (Note: if are finding yourself at this stage now, the best thing you can do today is make this day one of your new approaches to your job search, starting with the following).

Establishing clarity about what you are seeking in your next role is not just beneficial, it is essential. It enables you to direct your efforts efficiently, engage your network effectively, and approach your job search with confidence and purpose. To help you do this, here are a few reflective questions get grounded and move forward with clarity giving you a sharp focus, improved success, and results.

Clarity Questions

• What did you love about your past work, that you would love to spend much of your time doing?
• What are your strengths or skills you want to use in your next job?
• What are 5-10 job titles you would love to have and why? (essentially the job you are looking for) 
• What interests you about these jobs and what are 5 companies that you would love to work for that hire these titles?
• What job titles or types of work do you not want? Why?
• What is your timeline for finding this job? (Note: the shorter the window to find it, it might need to be more of a “stop-gap” job on the way to your next “long term” if you have 6-12 months to find it, it is safer to look for your long term next.)  

Logistics & Practical Questions

• What is your target salary or hourly rate?
• When are you available to start?
• Are you open to remote, hybrid, or on-site roles?
• How far are you willing to commute?
• What type of schedule works best for you (full-time, part-time, contract)?
• Any other logistical needs (schedule, location, salary, etc.)? Which are non-negotiables versus having flexibility?

Strategy & Mindset

• Do you have a weekly or daily routine; what is it?
• What are your processes for networking, applying, interviewing, and follow-up? 
• What is your “why” for finding a job?
• What is your current state of mind, 0 (discouraged) to 10 (optimistic)?
• How aggressive and focused are you in finding your next? 0 (waiting for it to find me; not a lot of time for this) to 10 (daily looking and applying)
• What have you noticed about people who are in the jobs you want? What do you have that matches; where are the gaps that you need to fill?
• What makes you a great person to hire? Would you were the hiring manager, would you hire yourself and why?
• What is your brand and unique’s for why to hire you?
• What do you want someone to say about you after a first interview?
• How big is your networking to reach out to old and new contacts? What is your plan to leverage your network?
• How many hours per week can you realistically commit to the search? (for any hunt, it is recommended to give at least 2-3 hours a week)
• What will help you stay motivated if the process takes longer than expected?

Support & Tools

• What skills might you need to develop to make yourself more marketable?
• What tools do you have in place and what do you need to develop?
• Do you have a current resume? Has it been updated in the last 3 months to match the positions you are trying to find?
• Is your LinkedIn profile current and aligned with your goals and your target job?
• Do you have a personal-professional career presentation? (interview folder or website with your resume, personal profile, work samples, etc.)
• How can your friends and family support your search?
• Who can professionally support you in this search? (Mentor, coach, accountability partner?)
• What are you using to track daily / weekly applications, responses, and follow-ups?

If there are questions you don’t know the answer to, do not settle with “I don’t know.” Work to find the answer to all the above, as it is part of equipping yourself for a robust, healthy, and rich job search. Clarity and focus are your friends; ambiguity (in this situation) is a thief of your time and energy. Whatever feels “hard” is the “work” that is needed. Push through it. Get feedback. Make decisions. Do not sit and wait. Clarity comes with stepping forward. As you explore and try things you will find doors open and close. See the doors that close as what was not supposed to be. Notice the doors that are opening as opening for a reason to learn and explore. Be open. Be curious. Be positive. You are in the driver’s seat; you are not a victim to the hiring managers. You are interviewing and picking your next as much as they are picking you. Make yourself marketable and attractive by being innovative, progressive, and active. Notice where your skills are stale and refresh them. Do practice interviews with seasoned leader friends. Whatever you do, do something. It will happen, and it happens faster based on the amount of clarity you are advancing with and the activity you are taking. You can do it! If you feel discouraged, reach out to get some links for assessments to study what is right with you and use these things to help build your brand. There is always something to do. Whatever you do, do not just sit and wait.