Career Drift is a concept which is not widely discussed but is widely experienced (in fact, you may be experiencing it right now).
Career Drift is a passive force that can affect anyone in any career. It is the gradual (and often unconscious) transition away from the career path that you’d really like to have.
Essentially, when you are Drifting in your career, you are disconnected from your professional identity.
You are simply existing in your job.
You go along feeling neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with your work, and over time you find yourself in a place you don’t want to be and can’t see an easy way out.
This can cause you to make a dramatic change in your career, which can be even more difficult to recover from.
By understanding and identifying Drift, you can make more informed decisions about your future and lead a more meaningful career.
Most of us don’t even realise we are Drifting until we take a step back and look at our lives objectively.
We get so caught up in our routines and everyday tasks that we just move from one day to the next, not really thinking about the bigger picture.
But the longer we stay in a state of Drift, the further we move away from what we actually want.
That’s why it’s so important to regularly reflect on your career and gain clarity about the professional goals that really matter to you.
As a Career Coach, I’m passionate about people leading successful and fulfilling professional lives, so I work closely with my clients to identify and prevent Career Drift.
Career Coaching helps you to understand where you are now and where you want to go by having continuous conversations that keep you motivated and focused.
Take this moment to consider if you are Drifting in your career.
If you are, why not have a conversation with a Career Coach and reconnect with the professional identity you really want?
Written by Ben MacNevin, with the help of AI
Career Coach, Quarter Life Academy
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