Finding career clarity and purpose admid doubts as an expat

Have you ever felt like your career should be on a certain path, yet you find yourself navigating a fog of uncertainty? For many expats, transitioning to a new country brings professional challenges that can intensify self-doubt and leave us questioning our next steps. Today, I want to share a story from someone I’ve worked with (we’ll call her Sarah) and explore how she navigated this journey. 

Sarah's story

Sarah moved abroad, excited to embrace a new role and culture. But soon after settling into her job, she realised that what had worked for her at home wasn’t translating well into her new environment. She began to doubt her skills and feel disconnected from the work she once loved.

The doubts crept in:

• Negative self-talk: Sarah often questioned whether she was as good as her colleagues back home or in her new office. This paralysed her decision-making and took a toll on her confidence.
• Fear of failure: She worried about not living up to her own expectations or the perceived expectations of others. These doubts left her unsure if she should take risks or move forward in her career.
• Comparison: Sarah noticed that friends in similar situations seemed to thrive, which only made her feel more inadequate. Comparison overshadowed her achievements, and the joy she once had in her career slowly faded.

As Sarah started to address these internal narratives, we discovered some others, like blaming herself for a past role that simply wasn’t a good fit. We worked together to focus on what mattered most to her, clearing away doubts and reconnecting her with her core strengths and values. Here are a few steps we used that could help you as well:

Three steps to finding career clarity and purpose

Here are a few steps we used that could help you as well:

1. Identify your strengths

Reflect on your personal and professional strengths to regain confidence and direction. Here are two ways to start:

Firstly, ask others for feedback: Reach out to trusted friends, colleagues, or family and ask them to share what they think your top strengths are. Try to identify around three that resonate most with you. 

Alternatively, you could take a strengths assessment: You can use tools like the High5 Test to gain insight into your strengths. Compare these results with the feedback you gathered and reflect on how they align.

After reviewing your strengths, identify the top three that feel authentic to you and could guide your next career decisions.

2. Uncover your core values

Your core values serve as the compass guiding your decisions, especially during challenging transitions. Here’s a simple process to uncover them.

Firstly, think of a moment that made you deeply angry or frustrated. Flip that emotion to identify the value that was violated. For instance, if you were angry about someone being treated unfairly, perhaps "justice" or "equality" is a core value for you.

Reflect on this exercise and try to narrow down your list to no more than three core values. These values will help inform important decisions moving forward.

3. Clarify your "why"

Once you understand your strengths and values, the next step is clarifying your "why" - the deeper purpose that motivates you. Here's a quick exercise: start with a belief statement such as "I believe the world is a better place when..." or "I believe life is most enjoyed when..."

Then, combine this belief with one of your highest values to craft a purpose statement that feels authentic. For example, if your core value is "transformation," your why might be something like: "I believe the world is a better place when people embrace change and growth."

See your career journey differently

Through these exercises, Sarah began to see her career journey differently. She uncovered an unspoken rule that had held her back: “I don’t have the experience or commitment of others, so I don’t deserve to go for what I want.” This realisation was a turning point, helping her let go of self-blame and reconnect with her core values and strengths.

With this clarity, Sarah shifted her career path with a renewed sense of purpose. Mindfulness practices and self-reflection became her anchor, nurturing her self-belief and confidence. Now, while doubts sometimes arise, the fog has lifted, revealing new opportunities and a vision that feels uniquely hers.

I hope Sarah’s story resonates with you and provides a helpful framework for finding your own career clarity and purpose. Sometimes, our biggest obstacles are the stories we tell ourselves, but by focusing on what truly matters to us, the path ahead becomes clearer.