Why it’s hard to figure out your career path alone
Anna Black
There’s a quote I love and share often “The contents of a jar can’t see what’s on the label”.
- Blair Enns
It’s a simple metaphor that illustrates why it’s so difficult to see ourselves objectively. In the career context, we undervalue our own skills (believing everyone can do what we can do), we’re blind to our unique strengths, and we dismiss the interests that energise us as ‘just hobbies’.
This is why working out your career direction on your own can feel impossible. You can’t see what’s on your own “label.”
How a career counsellor will help you see what you can’t
As a career counsellor, my role is to provide that external perspective.
I ask strategic questions, and notice the subtle shifts in energy when people talk about what lights them up.
I see the patterns in their experiences - the skills and strengths they return to again and again without realising it which holds the key to what they have to offer.
I open their eyes to what motivates and inspires them, connecting the dots between what they’ve done and what they really want.
Without that external view, it’s easy to get stuck in unfulfilling work, and a never-ending loop of analysis. It’s a recipe for indecision and years of wasted opportunity.
How career counselling uncovers the common threads in your interests and passions
When I work with clients, I often see repeated themes in the stories they tell. Someone might talk about projects they enjoyed, roles they thrived in, or even hobbies that brought them joy.
On their own, these things can feel unrelated. But from the outside, I can see the common threads that tie them together - it could be history, human stories, wellbeing, or conserving the natural world.
Career counselling creates space for forgotten interests to resurface. Perhaps you played piano as a teenager, or always had a niggling desire to open your own cafe or write novels, but dismissed it as impractical. These clues can point to what energises you. By giving them attention and unpacking what lies beneath, you open up the range of possibilities to bring them to life in practical ways.
How a career counsellor helps you validate what’s important
On your own, we almost always dismiss our passions and talk ourselves out of new directions which don’t fit society’s definition of practical or realistic.
My role is to help you validate those parts of yourself that are outside of this ‘sensible’ box, and see them as important. That validation is powerful - it allows you to take yourself and your ideas seriously. To test them, properly evaluate them, so you can make a confident decision about whether they’re worth pursuing – the decision that’s best for you.
Case study: What a childhood dream revealed about career direction
With one client I uncovered a childhood dream that he had dismissed years before. When he was young, he had wondered about being a firefighter, like his grandfather.
On the surface, it seemed unrealistic. He had young kids and family commitments, and the training and role requirements of the fire service meant joining simply wasn’t possible. So, we dug deeper. We explored what it was about the fire service that was appealing.
What was driving him?
What would he get out of being a fire fighter?
What boxes was he trying to tick?
It turned out, that it represented service to the community, physical challenge, and being outdoors. By identifying those underlying motivations, we were able to explore a whole range of career options that would capture the essence of what mattered most to him – from working in sport, community services and a range of other possibilities. He ended up finding a local government role in community security services that’s a great fit and also works well for his family.
Taking the next step with career counselling
I know firsthand how difficult it is to figure out your career path alone. I spent seven years stuck in a career that didn’t fulfil me, searching endlessly for answers (and getting nowhere). It was only when I worked with a career counsellor myself that I realised this was the work that ticks all the boxes for me. The guidance gave me clarity and certainty about the work that’s the best fir for me, and set me on the path to creating my own career counselling practice.
If you’re stuck, dissatisfied, or unsure of your next move, you don’t have to do this alone.
Career counselling gives you the guidance, the structure, and that critical external perspective to uncover a career that gets you jumping out of bed in the morning.
If you want clarity and confidence in your next step, join me for my free masterclass:
“Find the Career You Love in 2026”.
Happening on Monday 27 October, 7–8.30pm AWST / Perth time.
I’ll walk you through my proven process for finding a career that truly lights you up. Register
_____________________________________________________________________________
Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist.
She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university and corporate environment, Anna built her private practice. She’s a professional member of the Career Development Association of Australia and has won the WA Excellence in Practice award for her Define Your FutureTM program.
Now Anna guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-
discovery to find a career which lights them up.
Anna Black
If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling endlessly through job ads, hoping to find a whole new career path that fits you like a glove, , you’re not alone. I know this because I did exactly that for seven years.
If you’re a professional considering a career change, you’ve probably asked yourself:
“What skills do I have that will transfer into something new?”
The CloverTM Model enables you to define your preferences in four aspects of career; Tasks, Environment, Field and Motivation then used as a blueprint to align your work to, creating a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment – a career that ticks all the boxes.
No doubt you’ve heard the term ‘forever home’, meaning t he house you love so much, you can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else. Well, what if you could find your ‘forever career’ ? This translates to the career that lights you up. So much so that you’ll never want to retire. The sad thing is most people never even consider this idea. We're conditioned at a young age to believe that work is something we have to endure. It's sold to us as a non-negotiable, long, hard slog that we're locked into until close to 70 when we've finally earnt the right to retire and do stuff we enjoy. What a soul-crushing way to live! Annie Dillard once said, “How you spend your days is, of course, how you spend your life.” And, of course, she’s right. Our lives are made of years, made up of months, made up of days. And every single day is a small part of how you will have spent your life when you look back. The scary thing is that the days tick by. Quickly. When I first read that quote around 15 years ago, it hit me like a brick. I had the sudden realisation that I was waiting for life to happen for me. And that the life I wanted sometime off in the future wasn’t going to magically create itself. My life was happening now! And I was not in the driver’s seat. Now let's fast forward to a few months ago, I was sitting outside our villa at a holiday park sipping my morning coffee and enjoying the warm sun on my face when our friend shared their goal to retire by 55. He turned to me and asked “When do you plan to retire, Anna?” I didn’t have an answer. I paused for a minute then said, “I don’t think about retirement because I don’t actually want to retire” I have my ‘forever career’. I love my work 90% of the time (I won’t pretend I don’t occasionally have ‘those days’) so why would I stop? In my experience with over 240 professionals, the only things standing in the way of finding your ‘forever career’ are being aware that it’s possible - which I'll show you here, and figuring out what your 'forever career' is and how to make the career change. I have many stories of my clients who’ve achieved satisfaction, like Paula , who changed career from Operations Manager in a small air-conditioning business to Sales Manager for Wealthi, in property investment David , who found a new perspective on his Health and Safety role and is building a portfolio of passion projects in writing and connecting others through art and nature, and, Tim , who's shifting career from geology to consulting and teaching. And you’re welcome to check out many more examples of how my clients have changed careers in my Google and LinkedIn reviews. You can see that it’s absolutely possible. So the real challenge is figuring out what you truly want; what your ‘forever career’ is and the best way to make the change. The good news is, once you know what it is, the pull towards it becomes stronger than the fear holding you back. The next step becomes obvious, and you’ll start moving forward like you’re on autopilot. And the fear? It'll fade away. Clarity is powerful. And, in case you're wondering, here’s how you can achieve it for yourself. I break it down into six steps, in my Define Your Future™ career change system. It's counter-intuitive but simple. Define Your Future™ career change system (aka how to change to your ‘forever career’ in 6 simple steps) Step 1: Explore What Makes You Tick You’re a unique mix of values, interests, strengths, and personality. To find a career you love, you need to understand these things deeply. What are you interested in? What do you enjoy? What energises you? My Clover™ model helps you answer these questions and map out your blueprint for career satisfaction on a single page. This is the critical foundation for getting your career change right first time. Step 2: Define Your Ideal Work If someone asked, “So what do you want to do?” would you have an answer? Most people don’t but this is what we define in this step. It has the power to open doors. I’ve seen clients land amazing opportunities just by clearly articulating an answer to this question, even at a backyard BBQ! Step 3: Brainstorm All Possible Options Here’s where you uncover all the potential career options that could be a fit for you. We use four specific methods, and tap into the most up-to-date data sources, AI methods, and LinkedIn (with its membership base of over 1 billion users). We leave no stone unturned, and we’ll uncover options you never even knew existed! Step 4: Evaluate Objectively Here’s where we assess the options and see how they stack up against each other. Comparing them, ‘apples with apples’ you’ll see how many of your boxes each idea ticks. In this step, something magical happens – most of the options will fall away and the best fit career will reveal itself. Step 5: Decide and Design With clarity and confidence, you decide on your path forward and set to designing your career to create the lifestyle you want. We look at different ways of transitioning, combining roles, and making sure your career works for you (even if your needs change over time) so you’ll be totally in-sync, not making more sacrifices. Step 6: Take Action Once you’ve found your direction, and defined how you’re going to make the career change, the next step is to simply put it into a plan of action. Noting down exactly what you need to do, and how you’re going to do it, so you can focus all your energy on moving forward and making it a reality. You’ll see how the momentum builds fast when you’re aligned and excited! So that's the process for creating your own career change. Having guided over 240 mid-career professionals to more satisfying futures, I can tell you it’s a lot more simple than you think. When you break down each step into bitesize pieces and follow them one by one, you really can’t go wrong. So ask yourself. If you spent your remaining days, months and years of your life doing what you’re doing now, How would you feel about how you spent your life? Is it time to find your ‘forever career’? If this resonates with you... if you’re tired of feeling stuck, and you know there’s something more out there, I’ve created something to help you. 👉 Join me for my free online workshop where I'll walk you through the Define Your Future™ system in more detail, and show you exactly how to start mapping your own path to meaningful, energising work. Then I'll invite you to book a time to talk to me directly about how you can achieve this for yourself. Your ‘forever career’ is waiting. Let’s find it.
A guy reached out to me on LinkedIn interested in what I do. I called him and we had the most engaging conversation. I know the pain points of people who are dissatisfied with their careers. Everyone is a little different, but the shared experiences are very similar. There are always common themes. But every now and then, someone will articulate the challenges in a new way. This particular gentleman has been in his current role for around 5 years. He's not feeling challenged or motivated and there are no new opportunities for him within his current organisation. No "glimmer of hope", as he put it. So he's been applying for roles externally. Each one has something that interests him to a degree. But each only has the scope to be an incremental improvement on where he is now. Perhaps a little more responsibility. Or a little more money. But they would still lead to, in his words "a mediocre life". This stopped me in my tracks. Immediately, it became clear that this was a guy who wants more from life. He wants to do something extraordinary and not settle for a job that pays a little more, or gives him a little more kudos. He wants to make a difference. Doing something he loves. Building something of value. A legacy, even. Not everyone feels this way. Some people are content with a job that pays the bills and allows you to work with a decent bunch of people. There's a lot to be said for being able to feel satisfied with what you have. So while 'mediocre' is a loaded word. The question I have for you is genuine. Are you content with an OK job which pays the bills? Or do you have that fire in your belly making you crave more? That desire to achieve something great by focussing your efforts? An extraordinary life. Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna anna@strategiccc.com.au for more information.
Before I had kids, I saw motherhood as an obstacle to overcome in my career. But a simple comment from my mum shifted my perspective and inspired me to completely change my path
Brianna shares her first-hand experience of how her father's career change positively impacted the whole family in so many ways. His role-modelling of the importance of having a career which makes you happy is inspiring.
Does the advice 'just follow your passion' leave you floundering? Society has an obsession with finding and following passion, which is immensely frustrating for the majority of people who don't know what theirs is! I felt the same until I realised this simple fact about where passion comes from.
I changed careers back in 2012. After fourteen years in the mining industry - including several feeling wholly dissatisfied - I figured out that I wanted to support professionals to discover more fulfilling careers. I resigned from my job and studied for 18 months to get my second Masters degree, this time in Career Development, and I've worked in the careers field ever since. There's a range of titles used in our field; "Career Development Practitioner,” (the formal term used really only by career professionals themselves) Career Consultant, Career Coach and several more. For several years I've called myself a Career Coach because that's what I thought people would expect. Athletes have coaches, business owners have coaches, CEOs have coaches... it seemed like the most relatable term to use. But the truth is, I'm a Career Counsellor. Full stop. So what's the difference between a Career Coach and a Career Counsellor anyway? And why the big deal? Well, if you’re ever looking for support in your career, it's important to know. You want to make sure you have the right person on your side. And while I'm here, I'll clarify the valuable roles that mentors and sponsors can play in your career too. A Career Coach helps you get what you want in your career. They help you get clear on specific goals, map out what you need to do to achieve them, and then hold you accountable for doing the work to be successful. A Mentor is different. They also help you get what you want in your career, acting as a coach but also as a teacher and connector. They bring relevant knowledge, skills, experience and networks into the mix to help you be successful. A Sponsor , you guessed it, helps you get what you want in your career. They put your name forward for opportunities and vouch for you to help you secure the role you want, often a promotion. All of these people can help you get what you want. And they're all worth their weight in gold. On one condition... that you actually know what you want! If you’re unsure about which career you want, then a Career Counsellor is the one person that can actually help you. Until you know the position you want a Career Coach can't help you market yourself, a Mentor can't teach you what you need to know and a Sponsor can't help you secure that next role. So unless you’re crystal clear on the role you're aspiring to, start with the foundation of exploring what you want. And if you're wondering how to do this strategically, ask a Career Counsellor like me! Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna _ anna@strategiccc.com.au _ for more information.
Controversial suggestion, I know! I've loved seeing the acceleration of action on gender equality over the past few years. The sheer number of International Womens' Day events, awards and publications this year has again been quite incredible. I can't help but think, though, that fighting for equality for women is only half the battle, and I see it driving a wedge between the sexes. Before I go any further, I want to acknowledge the specific significance of the economic disadvantage of women and am wholeheartedly behind the urgent cause for women to become financially secure. But otherwise, being a woman isn't ALL bad, and both sides of the fence have their challenges. So, here's why I think recognising the challenges men face is also important. The expectations on men have increased exponentially in a generation Think of your parents' generation. Most likely your dad was the breadwinner and your mum was the home-maker and primary carer. Your dad would've come home from work and, let's face it, not been expected to do much at all except perhaps mow the lawn at the weekend and take the bins out once a week. I'm not having a shot at your dad. That was normal. A couple had one paid and one unpaid job between them when the kids were young. Two jobs, two people. But now dads are expected to take an active role in parenting. This is a wonderful thing and, in my experience, most are keen to do it. However, the pressure and expectation are significant. I remember my husband being abruptly ordered by a mid-wife to wash our first-born in the hospital after little sleep, a full day at work and a trip out to the airport and back to pick-up his mother-in-law. He was exhausted and this was a big ask. When kids come along, dads often become solely responsible for supporting the family financially after years of sharing this load with their partner. Perhaps for a short period of maternity leave, sometimes for longer. Either way, the financial pressure generally shifts to dad. Dads are now also being told that they must support their wives' careers by sharing the housework load too. I believe in a fair split of the load, but my point is that there are a fixed number of hours in the day and humans have finite capacity. When mum and dad both work full-time (and some add study or voluntary roles such as School Board Director into the mix… ahem… guilty!) we are now trying to cram three or more full-time jobs into the capacity of two people. Everyone has their limit, male or female. We can’t keep piling on the pressure without expecting someone to break. Men suffer from stereotypes and bias too Just ask a man who’s a stay-at-home dad how 'included' he feels in the local mothers group or ‘mums and bubs’ activities? How frustrating must it be when child-care insists on calling his wife and not him when there is an issue with the child despite being told that HE is the primary carer? What kind of comments do you think he deals with when he tells his male colleagues he's leaving his job to be a stay-at-home dad? Just ask a man who chose to work in the childcare industry who’s told that parents don’t want him to change their baby’s nappy. Or the man who chose to become a primary school teacher who's told to raise his hands in the air if a student approaches him to prove he's not touching them inappropriately. Just ask a man who, when he sees a woman walking alone at night, crosses the road to keep his distance so she doesn't feel threatened. These are just a few examples that illustrate the flip-side of stereotypes and how they manifest in bias against men. Mutual empathy is the key From a male perspective, all the talk of how unfair the world is for women, how we are oppressed, discriminated against and generally hard-done-by must wear thin. If I was a guy, I’d naturally see the advantages of being a woman (the grass is always greener!). I have my brother to thank for pointing out one example years ago when he said “You have a choice”. “You can choose to work or not work when you have kids. I can’t. I have no choice but to work full-time”. He was right. I know this isn’t always the case, many women have to work and some men have the choice not to. But it’s definitely more common for women to have leeway on this and employers are far more accommodating of their requests for flexibility. As a man, I would feel that women didn’t understand my challenges. In this new world of gender targets, especially in Mining/Resources, life has got tougher. Let’s be honest, discrimination in favour of women is rife. It’s justified in the name of redressing the balance and maybe it's a necessary step. But for the poor blokes who are there now, trying to get a job or hoping to be promoted and being told “don’t bother applying, I have to give the role to a woman”, it’s tough. Let’s acknowledge that. The risk of ignoring the challenges for men I’m a feminist and being a feminist means believing in equality which means equality for men too. We know that in Australia, men are three times more likely than women to commit suicide. This has been linked to the expectations and culture of masculinity in our society. It concerns me that if we focus too heavily on the challenges of women, and allow the perception that men are to blame and 'have it easy' to persist, we could see the situation with men's mental health worsen. Mutual understanding and empathy is the key. If you ever have the opportunity to switch roles with your partner, I encourage you to do it. I did and I learnt a lot. I'll save the full story for another day, but suffice to say that life can be tough for both women and men in different ways so let’s open our eyes and show compassion for both sides. Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna anna@strategiccc.com.au for more information.
