Take stock of your career journey

Imagine navigating a dense forest without a map — every step uncertain and the destination unclear. For many professionals, this is what a career can feel like: a journey filled with choices, challenges, and opportunities but often shrouded in uncertainty.

In such situations, a personal career audit becomes the compass that cuts through the overgrowth of doubt, enabling clarity and purpose.

As the year draws to a close, many organisations conduct performance reviews to assess achievements, set new targets, and align teams for the future.

Similarly, human resource experts say professionals should take stock of their individual journeys by conducting a personal career audit. This reflective exercise allows individual evaluation, recalibrate their trajectory, and set the stage for meaningful growth.

Here are some parameters to use when conducting your career audit.

Value of personal career audit

“A career audit provides a structured way to assess where you are and where you want to go,” says Daphne Kakonge, a managing partner at Human Capital Business Solutions.

She recommends starting with a comprehensive evaluation of your skills.

“List what you have gained from work, education, and personal experiences, categorising these into technical, business, and people skills.”

Once you have identified these skills, Kakonge advises rating them on a scale of one to 10 to pinpoint areas requiring improvement.

“This process reveals gaps and illuminates areas where growth is needed,” she explains.

One of the first signs a career audit can reveal is stagnation, which often creeps in unnoticed. Feeling unchallenged at work, a lack of learning opportunities, or underutilised professional skills are common indicators.

“Outdated skills and vague career goals are frequent culprits,” Kakonge says. “They leave professionals on autopilot, only to realise too late that their growth has stalled.”

She warns against waiting passively for recognition or assuming that career progression will occur naturally. “Your career is a proactive pursuit. If you feel stuck, it is time to reassess your approach and develop a concrete plan.”

Reflect on wins and setbacks

A cornerstone of any career audit is reflecting on the past year’s achievements and setbacks. This involves measuring progress against set goals and understanding why certain objectives may not have been met.

“Feedback is invaluable,” Kakonge notes. “Seek it from peers, mentors, or managers. It offers insights into your strengths and areas for improvement.”

Structured reflection helps professionals identify not only their successes but also the missteps that hindered progress. Recognising setbacks, Kakonge explains, is not about assigning blame but rather learning and adapting for the future.

Setting goals for maximum impact

Goal-setting is often the most transformative part of a career audit. It is the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. Short-term goals provide immediate focus and momentum, while long-term goals offer a sense of purpose and direction.

“Short-term goals could be completing a certification or improving a specific skill in three months,” she advises. “Meanwhile, long-term goals, such as where you see yourself in five or 10 years, require planning and breaking the vision into actionable steps.”

She stresses the importance of using the SMART framework: goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Conduct a skills audit

A personal career audit often starts with a skills inventory. This process involves identifying core competencies, assessing gaps, and developing a plan to bridge them.

In today's dynamic world, skills have become a must-have for job success.

“Conducting a skills audit highlights your strongest competencies, addresses weaknesses, and ensures you stay relevant in a changing job market,” Kakonge explains.

It also aligns your aspirations with industry demands, making it a critical tool for future-proofing one’s career.

Feedback

Feedback is an external mirror reflecting your performance and potential. “Incorporating feedback into your career audit ensures you have an unbiased perspective of your strengths and areas for improvement,” Kakonge notes.

Tools such as 360-degree evaluations can provide comprehensive insights. Feedback, when used constructively, supports development plans.

Navigating professional challenges

For those who faced difficulties this year, rebuilding confidence and focus is essential. Kakonge suggests embracing change, cultivating adaptability, and building resilience.

“Change is inevitable,” she says. “Instead of resisting, view it as an opportunity for growth.”

Avoid common pitfalls

While reflecting on career growth, it is vital to avoid common mistakes. She warns against neglecting feedback, failing to network, and lacking clear goals.

“Career growth is not linear,” she reminds. “Flexibility and adaptability are crucial as market dynamics shift.”

Another misstep is frequent job-hopping without strategic planning. While seeking better opportunities is valid, constantly changing roles without a clear purpose can hinder long-term growth.

FOCUS

Shamim Walusimbi, an awardwinning HR strategist and consultant at Aldelia outlines critical areas for reflection during a career audit: • Achievements vs Objectives: Compare accomplishments against goals set at the year’s start. • Skills development: Evaluate growth in technical and soft skills. • Professional relationships: Assess the strength and relevance of your network. • Job satisfaction: Reflect on work-life balance and alignment with personal values. • Future preparedness: Determine if your current role positions you for future aspirations.