What Can You Learn from Your Current Role?
Let’s start with your current job — or your current role, if it’s changed a bit. What parts are actually good? What responsibilities make the day fly by? What parts feel like a slog?And be real — any red flags? What's your work situation really like? Is it just stressful, or are you actually growing? If you do best when working with others, your next role (or maybe a new role) should involve teamwork. If every day feels the same, try looking for positions that offer new skills or tools, and a bit more variety in the day-to-day. Here’s a quick example: maybe you enjoy mentoring people, but you barely get the chance. That’s worth noting.The key is to identify what works for you — and what doesn’t. That’s how you start to understand what you really want in your next job.Want to make this easier? Try doing a simple Start / Stop / Continue exercise. Write down what you want to start doing in your next role (like more creative work), what you'd rather stop (like back-to-back meetings), and what’s worth continuing (like mentoring teammates). It’s a low-pressure way to spot patterns and priorities without overthinking.
What Are Your Core Values and Career Goals Right Now?
What matters to you in a career? Think about it. Do you want more money? A better work-life balance? A stronger sense of purpose?Would a salary increase really help? Or are you looking for something that makes you feel supported and heard? If professional development is high on your list, focus on places that offer a professional development program, real training, or even a career coach. These options mean the company is actually investing in people. Some care most about making money. Others want meaningful work or closer relationships with clients or colleagues. Whatever you’re after, take a second to determine what matters most to you right now.Making these kinds of career decisions isn’t always easy — but it’s worth slowing down for.
At Yango Group, we spot strong soft skills through how a candidate shows up in the conversation. The way they structure their thoughts, the questions they ask to clarify the task, and how they handle unexpected shifts in the interview — these moments reveal their real communication style far better than memorized answers.
If you're reflecting on your own career goals, this kind of advice — especially from global employers like Yango — is worth leaning into. Understanding your strengths, values, and what truly motivates you is key — not just for culture fit, but for finding meaningful work where you can grow, contribute, and feel aligned with what the company stands for.One way to get clarity? Use the Ikigai framework — a Japanese concept that helps you explore what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. Where those areas overlap is often where your most meaningful work lives.Not sure where to start? Grab a piece of paper and draw four overlapping circles. In one, list things you love; in the second, what you're good at; third, what people need; and fourth, what you can earn from. The sweet spot in the middle might just reveal a direction you hadn’t considered.
Which Skills and Interests Do You Actually Enjoy Using?
Let’s talk about your skills — and not just the ones you’re good at. Which ones do you enjoy using? Have you taken a course, gone through some training, or picked up a tool lately that felt exciting?Was there something challenging, but also rewarding? That’s worth paying attention to. Ask someone you trust — a friend, colleague, or person who knows your work — for advice. Their point might be totally different from how you see yourself. Here’s the thing: you don’t need to have all the answers. Just noticing a few small things can help you make big moves.Notice the patterns. What aspects of your job feel good? That’s usually where your interest and growth are hiding. To spot those patterns more clearly, try journaling for a week. Each day, jot down which tasks energized you and which drained you. For example: “Felt excited after brainstorming session” or “Totally zoned out during spreadsheet cleanup.” After a few days, you’ll start to see what truly lights you up — and what needs to go.
What Career Paths or Job Positions Are Worth Exploring?
Okay, now you’ve done some thinking. Time to look outward. Check out different positions. Which ones seem cool? Any companies that share your values?Talk to people. Colleagues. Friends. A career coach. They might say things you wouldn’t find scrolling through job listings. After a while, you’ll notice themes. The majority of the roles that catch your eye might share the same responsibilities or company culture aspects. That helps you determine what kind of path makes sense.You might feel unsure — that’s fine. Most people figure out their direction by trying many things, messing up, adjusting, and trying again.You can also use a Mind Mapping technique — start with a broad career idea in the middle, then branch out into roles, industries, tasks, and values that connect to it. It’s a visual way to explore which paths actually excite you.For instance, if you start with “creative problem-solving” in the center, you might branch into roles like UX designer, project strategist, or innovation lead — giving you a clearer picture of what's out there beyond typical job titles.
What Kind of Work Environment and Company Culture Do You Really Want?
The job itself matters — but so does the place and how they do things. Your work environment affects your life. A lot.Do you like structure or flexibility? Remote or in-person? Do you want support from a team or freedom to just do your thing? Look into company websites, reviews, and what current employees say. In interviews, ask real questions about learning, training, and feedback. Listen to how they talk about ideas and family — if they care, you’ll hear it.Culture can shape the quality of your experience more than the job title ever could. A place might sound good, but turn out to be a bad situation in the long run. Trust your gut.
Balance isn’t just about working fewer hours — it’s also about having the space to enjoy everyday life. That might mean ordering dinner through Yango Food after a long day, or taking a spontaneous weekend trip with Yango Drive — without feeling tethered to your laptop. These small freedoms add up, and modern employers are beginning to recognize how much they matter.
Still unsure what kind of environment fits you? Try a Culture Fit Checklist. Make a list of what matters to you — flexibility, autonomy, mentorship, collaboration — and rate each company you explore. For example, after reading a job post or checking out their site, give each value a 1–5 score. It’s like dating, but for jobs — and your gut feeling gets some backup.
How Can You Set Clear Career Objectives and Take Your Next Steps?
Alright, time to move. You’ve thought it through — now what’s next?Maybe you apply to three positions a week. Maybe you take a course. Or maybe you just spend time tweaking your resume or reaching out to someone you admire. If your focus is making money, set a target. If it’s growth, look for roles with training built in. Whether you’re running on hope or planning every step, stay intentional.Setting goals doesn’t mean having it all mapped out. It just means you know your next steps — and you're taking them.Let’s say your goal is to transition into a new role within three months. Make it SMART: “Apply to 3 relevant jobs each week (Specific & Measurable), make sure they align with my growth goals (Relevant), and set a reminder to review progress every Friday (Time-bound).” This way, your next move isn’t a vague hope — it’s a plan.And when it comes to staying on track and not getting lost in the process, a little structure and support can go a long way. As one international recruiter put it:
I see how technology can help people move forward with more confidence. AI takes care of the routine — tracking goals, staying focused, keeping progress visible. Coaching, on the other hand, brings support, helps people understand themselves, and see the bigger picture. Together, they create a space where it’s easier not to give up — and to keep going, one step at a time.
Curious how AI and coaching can actually work together in practice? Check out our guide to combining smart tools with personal growth support. Start small. Reflect now and then. Adjust if you need to. Keep your values, your skills, and what matters most front and center — they’ll guide you better than any checklist. And if things don’t go the way you hoped? That’s okay. Everyone takes a fall now and then. What matters is how you get back up — and what you choose to develop from it.Because in the end, learning how to decide what you want in your next job isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s just about asking the right questions and actually listening to yourself. Your next position could be more than a paycheck. It could be something that helps you grow, connect, and feel fulfilled in ways that truly matter.So take your time. You’re allowed to not know everything. Just keep going — one real step at a time.
