5 Career Questions to Ask Yourself in 2023

We are somewhat wired, as a year ends, to ponder new goals—from health to relationships and, of course, career—and what we hope to achieve in the new year. In the world of work, there are myriad questions people are asking themselves about what matters, what makes us feel fulfilled, and what we value most when contemplating career moves. Here are some questions to ask yourself about what you want from your job in 2023.

How important is salary to you in your current role?

As the threat of inflation and a potential global recession dominate the news, it is natural that workers want to maximise their earning potential. Salary matters. Not only for the extrinsic acknowledgement that your employer values your experience, knowledge, and commitment -- but because we do actually need money to live.

According to a report published by The Adecco Group, of those who say they will quit in the next 12 months, 45% will do so in order to get a better salary. But salary is hardly the only factor affecting workers’ attitudes; among those who feel engaged in their jobs, its rank on a list of priorities drops all the way to sixth. Only 25% of those planning to remain in their jobs cite salary as the reason. Instead, stability, work-life balance and flexibility help retain workers. That’s why it’s so important to ask yourself whether salary trumps these other factors – or whether it’s truly the most important thing for you.

Do you feel fulfilled at work?

As generations mix in the world of work and new themes emerge, engagement has become the buzzword of the moment. But it’s more than that.

Fulfilment, connection, continuous interest in the work people do is becoming a top-ranking priority when considering career moves and opportunities. Today’s worker—either desk or non-desk professionals–want to care about what they do and want to feel they are contributing to a purpose they value.

Consider carefully whether a new job prospect will offer you the opportunity to feel regularly engaged, beyond the buzz of the job offer, in such a way that your talents will develop, unfold, and contribute to a purposeful endeavor.

How important is continuous learning and upskilling for you?

Related to engagement, continuous learning and upskilling are clearly paramount to Gen Z workers, and increasingly so with those who came before them. Growth in your career expands beyond promotions and pay raises.

Do you have the opportunity to engage in more challenging projects, the professional development offerings—and encouragement—to grow in your skill sets and stay abreast of new technologies, processes, and interpersonal and DEI approaches? This will keep you growing as a professional beyond the day-to-day tasks of your current position.

Where do you want to work, and how often?

The pandemic fundamentally changed the way we work. Faced with mandatory lockdowns and quarantines and other preventative polices, organizations large and small had to rethink their practices when it comes to the so-called 9 to 5 (but often earlier and later) culture of in-house work.

What emerged was a rethinking of the value of such a work culture, and how its prevalence has hindered the success in particular of women, BIPOC employees, and neurodiverse workers. 

Although many workers missed the day-to-day camaraderie and connectedness of working in the office, for millions of others, the opportunity to work remotely, either full- or part-time, provided a healthier, and safer, environment to succeed in their roles.

Not everyone will want to return to the way it was. But it’s time for you to decide: where do you want to work? And how often? Understanding the kind of work structure that fits your life and health best is a key question when considering both current and new work opportunities.

What’s your perspective on work: Quiet quitting versus ‘extremely hardcore’?

Work harder, and longer, or leave. That was the message Elon Musk sent to the remaining Twitter employees in November. “This will mean working long hours at high intensity,” he said. “Only exceptional performance will constitute a passing grade.”

It doesn’t seem to be going the direction Musk hoped. According to Fortune, “Many more workers declined to sign on than he expected, potentially putting Twitter’s operations at risk, according to people familiar with the matter.”  

Many terms have cropped up to describe the working atmosphere over the past several years during the pandemic: The Great Resignation. The Great Re-evalution. Quiet Quitting.

All of terms have one thing in common. They speak to workers’ attitudes, expectations and satisfaction revolving their work. Quiet Quitting, for example, primarily means workers will do the work for which they have agreed to do and be compensated for. If more is demanded or expected, more should be compensated.

The hours you work—the commitment of intellectual power, the time away from family, hobbies, other pursuits—should be tallied in a way that respects an appropriate balance. The pandemic showed many of us that we can manage our work with other interests and responsibilities, provided we are granted the flexibility to arrange our schedules and priorities to reflect all that matters, not just our jobs.

Looking ahead to 2023

Whether you are considering a career move, have been laid off, or are feeling unfulfilled in your current position, there are many points to consider before taking the leap. A lateral move will not resolve dissatisfaction or uncertainty in your work life.

Carefully consider what matters to you, what makes you feel the most engaged, fulfilled, and appreciated long term. Availing of that space for introspection will set you on the path to a successful career trajectory in the new year and beyond.