Find your career belonging

Posted on 8 January 2025 • Career planning

Research from the Valuegraphics Project (2024) shows belonging “tops the list of core human values”. Career belonging is your need to have a career that represents you on your terms, with the freedom, flexibility and autonomy to choose your own direction (Dr Sarabeth Birth Bickerton). Here’s how to feel belonging, be seen and valued in your career:

1. Set yourself goals

3-minute careers check-in will help you clarify your personal and career goals. You can return to this as many times as you like during your student journey, as your goals develop, clarify or change. Then, work out your next steps using the Navigate Your Future tool.

2. Develop your self-awareness

“You can’t foster belonging without true self-awareness.”

William Arruda, Forbes 2024.

Undertake our career self-assessment to cultivate career belonging by figuring out where you might develop and grow. Then hone your decision-making skills to foster your personal and professional growth and feel more confident about the choices you make.

3. Develop your career confidence

To find career belonging, you need to believe in yourself and your abilities. Develop the confidence to try new things and ask for what you want.

4. Assess and develop your skills

You may have strengths that you’re not even aware of, and knowing what they are can foster a sense of career belonging. By analysing your existing skills and qualities you can align your career path with your authentic self, leading to greater satisfaction, purpose and belonging in your choice of work. Try one of our skills workshops and employer panel events to help you to develop the skills you need to find or progress your career direction.

5. Develop your professional identity

How you present yourself is crucial to your identity and sense of career belonging. View our Help Centre pages to develop your professional online presence and discover how best to optimise your LinkedIn profile. Join us for one of our tailored LinkedIn events on OpportunityHub to learn how to best use this key platform for creating a professional identity and making career connections.

“When your career belongs to you, you can never lose it or have it taken from you. Only you can redirect or change it when you want to.”

Dr Sarabeth Birth Bickerton

By taking steps to achieve career belonging with the help of Careers and Employability Services, you can feel valued, supported, included, connected and in control of your future.

References

Arruda, W. (2024) Why Belonging is the Key to Authentic Leadership Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2024/01/23/why-belonging-is-the-key-to-authentic-leadership/ (Accessed: 14 November 2024).

Birk Bickerton, S. Why we need both career belomgomg amd workplace belonging to feel valued https://www.morethanmytitle.com/blog/2023/10/11/why-we-need-both-career-belonging-and-workplace-belonging-to-feel-valued (Accessed: 14 November 2024).

Valuegraphics (2024) Available at: https://valuegraphics.com (Accessed: 14 November 2024).

 

Annabel Bennett is a Development Coordinator in the OU’s Careers and Employability Services. She supports careers-related activity both within the service and across the University, helping students to achieve their ambitions and fulfil their potential. Explore the rest of our blog for more articles from your careers team.