Reflecting on the professional project is an essential step to follow in order to flourish professionally and personally. It is important to go through deep introspection so as not to find yourself trapped in a job that you absolutely do not like.
Students generally do not have time to think about their professional project; between courses, internships or even student jobs, they do not find the opportunity to look in depth at the question of their future professional life. However, to properly approach the job market, you must measure your employability beforehand and know exactly what you are looking for.
This task is more complex than it seems. A professional coach explained to MCG Group : “When a candidate has not thought about their professional project, it is immediately apparent. He doesn’t know what interests him. He cannot clearly explain why he is applying for a given position: he could just as easily apply for any other. The candidate without a professional project is a very difficult person to evaluate: their motivation remains vague and they have difficulty putting themselves forward. Furthermore, in the absence of a professional project, the candidate is also tempted to accept anything and everything. Since he doesn’t know what he wants, he can join any company. For a recruiter, a candidate without a professional project risks quickly becoming frustrated and forcing them to navigate blindly from one position to another. This is why people without a professional plan have difficulty getting through the interview process. »
Professional project: definition
The professional project corresponds to the strategy that every student must put in place in order to achieve a professional objective. It is not limited to a particular profession, but can extend to a specific position or a specific company which will allow you to benefit from a work rhythm that suits you.
However, it cannot be built in a snap and must be carried out on the basis of deep reflection. It therefore requires knowledge of your desires, your know-how and your interpersonal skills. It is thanks to a well-defined professional project that you will succeed in developing professionally in a field that you like and which will allow you to give the best of yourself.
To do this, you will just have to follow the following steps.
List your desires to define your professional project
Students are often used to following a previously established path because they have been conditioned by their social environment or those around them. But when they arrive on the job market, they find themselves carrying out missions that do not suit them at all. Their development therefore suffers severely.
This is why it is important to take a step back from our career path and ask ourselves which courses we enjoyed the most during our schooling, the internships which brought us the most added value and the principles that really matter to us. Take time to analyze all of these elements and assess their compatibility with your future profession.
There are a large number of techniques for finding your way. We find in priority the Japanese method, Ikigaï. It allows you to find your “reason for being” by answering 4 questions: what you like, what you are good at, the cause you want to defend and what you are or will be paid for.
Finding your Ikigai allows you to take the path of self-fulfilment, personal fulfillment and to achieve the balance between professional and personal aspirations. The goal is to find harmony between these four major themes by answering, in writing, the different questions. It is after carrying out this exercise that you will begin to understand the situation and the type of profession that will suit you.
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Conduct in-depth reflection and list your professional experiences
The key to success is, above all, knowing yourself. The goal is not to be hired for a job that is certainly attractive, but which absolutely does not suit you. The goal is above all to be consistent with your strengths and desires.
We recommend that you list all the important experiences which have marked you and which have contributed to your development (school, associative, professional experiences, travel, humanitarian missions, etc.) and to detail the missions that have been assigned to you. confided. Then ask yourself the following questions:
- What did this teach me?
- What else did I bring from this experience?
- What aspects of my personality can I enhance thanks to this experience?
- What are the areas for improvement?
All experiences can be valued, whether humanitarian, sporting or even associative. It’s usually the details we pay the least attention to that can help us differentiate ourselves from other candidates.
Furthermore, before applying, it is important to find out about the position and to be perfectly consistent with the company’s expectations, so as not to be taken by surprise during the interview and to feel overwhelmed by the avalanche of questions that awaits you. To feel comfortable during the exchange with the recruiter, it is recommended to think seriously about your aspirations, your qualities and your faults.
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Expand your contact list
Networking is one of the most powerful ways to boost your career and learn more about the professional world. According to the ifop figures, “46% of recruiters rank their personal and professional network among the recruitment channels giving them the most satisfaction. » That said, not feeding your network can cause you to miss out on many professional opportunities. This is why it is important to maintain good relationships with the professionals you meet and who work in your sector. They will be able to help you learn more about their profession and refine your professional project.
LinkedIn is naturally the ultimate networking tool. So don’t hesitate to add your classmates, your teachers or even your work colleagues. Every relationship counts. Likewise, try to be active on professional social networks and update your latest experiences and comment and like other people’s posts. These interactions may seem unimportant to you, but it will allow you to boost your visibility and at the same time expand your network. The slightest action can be decisive in landing the job of your dreams.
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