Having feelings of confusion regarding where your career is headed is completely normal, especially when you are just starting out.
Sometimes, you are at a loss on what to do. You don’t know how to get yourself to your desired goal, even though you’ve spent a ton of resources trying to achieve your dreams. If you feel this way, it is completely normal. And fortunately, there is a remedy — you can reverse engineer your career.
What is Reverse Engineering?
Reverse engineering is working backwards to analyze and demystify the structure of something, perhaps a product or system. You can simplify and understand the product when you look at it from the perspective of its final form.
In plain English, reverse engineering your career would involve placing the destination or end goal first to understand your career path. With the end goal in sight, you can break it into smaller, achievable pieces. These smaller pieces will inform the actions you’ll need to take.
Reverse engineering can get you to your career destination faster. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieve it.
- Decide on a Career path: Where would you like to be in 5 years or 10 years? Do you want to be a senior software developer, a bakery owner, project manager, or consultant for tech companies? Write down the path you have chosen.
- Research: The next thing to do is research what is required to get you to that destination. This includes the job description and whether it’s something you would like to see yourself doing. Also, research industry experts in the field—people in the position you want to be. Follow their story to see how they started and what they did to get there. Chances are they will share their experiences and mistakes. You can learn from those. You’ll understand the requirements of the role, and you’ll have a clearer sense of what to do and what to avoid.
- Demystify: Now that you have the requirements at hand, analyze them. You can ask yourself the following questions: What niche, if applicable, do I want to specify in? What skills do I need ? What certifications do I require? How long will it take me to learn? How many years do I need to get to the end goal?
- Do a gap analysis: Look at the current skills, experience and certifications that you possess. Observe what is missing. Let’s say your end goal is to become a Fintech Writer. You may have writing skills but lack the knowledge on fintech. The gap in this case is the technical know-how. It means you need to take fintech courses and read up on the industry trends to stay up to date. That way, you’ll be better informed and can write about it. Conduct an analysis to discover the gap, and then decide how to fill it—whether that means going back to school, taking an online course, or getting an internship.
- Spread the word: Start talking about everything you learn. This lets people know what you’re all about and helps you attract people who can guide you on the path. You can do this on social media platforms such as LinkedIn or X.
- Apply for internships: Internships are a really good way to learn if you’re just starting out. Check for roles related to the industry you’re interested in and apply. It’s a game of numbers—you have to apply for as much as you can.