I have worked my way up into the corporate world from a mere receptionist to now being a “Director”. (Not that I can tell, but I’m trying not to be grumpy). And I couldn’t care less about titles anyway. No, seriously.

Our small, growing company is going through a lot of changes, what with a new COO and new studio openings and department re-organizations. I am anxious to see how it might help my department.

Anyway, in the last several months I have been asked a question two separate times by two different people…and I didn’t know how to answer.

The first time I heard the question I thought I might want to think about my answer, but quickly forgot about it and moved on without much meditation on the subject.

The next time was a couple of weeks ago, and this time from our new COO who seemed genuinely interested to hear what I might say. And I just said, “Oh! Um, gosh, well, I’m not totally prepared for that question. I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it.” Duh. There it was again, the same question, that sounded like a rather normal question, but this new business girl had no answer!

The question is: “What are your career goals?”

I was not prepared for this question in my grad school program. Our third year we were much more concerned with finding our set of “killer monologues”. That was our preparation for the “real world”. Career goals? Whaddaya mean?

So, I left that meeting knowing I had to answer that question for myself so that next time it comes up, or even if it doesn’t and I have to insert it somewhere, I can have a proper answer.

But I truly don’t really know what that means?

So, the search has begun. What are my career goals?

My first step in answering this question has been to start reading books about business and women in business. I am learning and enjoying this very much. I suddenly don’t feel quite so lost in the corporate world my creative little place of business is morphing into.

I also got a book about using one’s natural strengths in life, to possibly help me narrow down what I might like and then what I might actually be good at. The book is called Strengths Finder 2.0 and I took the accompanying quiz online to reveal my Top 5 strengths.

Here are mine:

1) Empathy
2) Adaptability
3) Developer (of others and ideas)
4) Consistency
5) Positivity*

*no laughing ~ at work and in general I actually do stay really positive. it’s just here on my blog that I wallow in stuff. it helps me get it out. sorry.

The book and the website take these top 5 themes and help me create a plan of action for using my strengths. I am still learning whether this will help me define my career goals, but it is interesting nonetheless. We’ll see…it could help or it could be a big waste of time. Fingers crossed!

But now, how would you answer the question ‘What are your career goals?’ ~ please let me in on what this means to you and how you might answer it…

Please help this naive actress turned business woman!