A clear compass of your values is like the roots of a tree. When opportunities, doubt, or distractions try to sway you away, you can remain grounded in what's important to you. As you choose what is essential, you will also decide what to let go of. In this process, we will also dive further into what the chosen values mean for you and when you have been able to experience them previously in your professional life.

With a clear compass, we will now explore the various components of your new career. Our journey is inspired by the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which means "a reason for being. Ikigai uncovers four critical components of an enjoyable career:

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• What do I love to do?

• What am I good at? 

• What am I / can I get paid for doing?

• What does the world need from me?

The framework, together with the right questions and guidance, is an eye-opener for how many possibilities are out there for you to consider.

You can only make the right decision when several opportunities are available. In this step, we will take our insights from your value compass and IKIGAI to build multiple career options. It's a creative phase where everything goes. The work entails me asking you a broad range of questions with ample opportunity to both think and feel about your options. Through critical thinking, you will eventually narrow down the amount of options.

We will adjust your professional profile to highlight past achievements that are most relevant to your chosen career options. 

We will incorporate your values and strengths to communicate what you stand for and what conditions allow you to thrive. 

In less than 30 seconds, you can tell a stranger what you stand for, what makes you unique, and what kind of company will benefit the most from your expertise.

The search process is similar to launching your marketing plan. We will create an overview of all channels, including your network, upcoming events, headhunters, and local companies. Hereafter, we will map out where and how to reach out. Based on the indirect and direct feedback from the search, we will adjust and finetune the profile from step four. Your search will soon deliver several opportunities for interviews.

A successful interview is a two-way street. First, we will prepare and practice the most essential questions the companies may ask you. Secondly, we will prepare how you can interview the companies. This part is often overlooked but is vital. A simple question like "What dilemmas do the employees face daily, and how are they supposed to go about them?" can reveal much about the company's culture. The goal is to choose the right opportunity; for that to happen, you must know as much as possible about the company.

In the negotiation phase, we will take a strategic approach and focus on win-win. In the interview process, you will learn about the interests of your future boss and the team you will be working with. Combining their interests with yours will enable us to create options to enhance the standard offer. Don't worry about the company withdrawing their offer because you go beyond the usual ask for a higher salary. The negotiation around topics such as home office, additional education, career path, working hours, travel volume, and performance-based pay are all factors that can affect your well-being at work. The goal is to create an explicit agreement on what you need to thrive and deliver the company's desired results. That is a win-win and the foundation for both parties to be satisfied long-term.

Hitting roadblocks in a new role is part of the game. Many of the roadblocks you will clear directly with your boss or coworkers. 

Especially in the first six months, you should first externally discuss deeper-rooted issues such as personal conflicts, significant strategic decisions, or lack of well-being in the new role. This is important at the beginning since you are still building your goodwill in the company. Approaching your counterpart with emotional stability and well-thought-out solutions to complicated issues will quickly add to your standing in the company.