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How to get clear about your career
- Brittany Wilson
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Most career decisions don’t happen neatly. They show up when you’re tired. Or frustrated. Or curious. Or suddenly forced to decide because something changed - a reorg, a layoff, a recruiter message you didn’t expect. Over the years, I’ve noticed that when people feel “stuck” in their careers, it’s rarely because they lack options. It’s because they lack clarity.
That’s exactly why I created the Career Clarity Canvas.
It’s a simple worksheet I’ve personally used for years anytime I’m at a career crossroads. Whether I’m considering a new opportunity, deciding if it’s time to make a change, or processing an unexpected transition, this one-page exercise brings clarity when I need it most.
And the best part? It takes about five minutes a week to complete.
Make job searching a whole lot easier.
Why clarity matters more than confidence
Many people assume they need more confidence to move forward in their careers. In reality, confidence often comes after clarity.
When you’re clear on:
What energizes you
What drains you
What you’re no longer willing to tolerate
Decision-making gets easier.
Interviews feel more grounded.
Job descriptions become easier to evaluate.
And saying “no” becomes just as empowering as saying “yes.”
The Career Clarity Canvas is built around three deceptively simple questions that surface exactly that kind of insight.
The Three Questions That Shape Career Clarity
1. What excites you?
This question isn’t about job titles or company names. It’s about energy.
What types of work make you lose track of time?
What problems do you enjoy solving?
When have you felt most engaged or proud in your career?
Patterns tend to emerge when people answer this honestly. You may notice:
Themes around creativity, problem-solving, or influence
A preference for certain environments (fast-paced vs. steady, collaborative vs. independent)
Specific moments when you felt most like yourself at work
These clues help you identify career paths and roles that align with how you naturally operate.
2. What could you do without?
This is where the canvas gets especially powerful.
What parts of your past roles felt tolerable at best… or draining at worst?
What responsibilities, environments, or expectations consistently frustrated you?
This question helps you name:
Tasks that quietly burn you out
Work conditions you’ve outgrown
Expectations you’ve been carrying out of obligation, not alignment
Getting clear on what you don’t need creates space for more intentional choices and helps prevent repeating the same patterns in your next role.
Make job searching a whole lot easier.
3. What are your dealbreakers?
Dealbreakers are non-negotiables.
They might include:
Work-life boundaries
Leadership style
Flexibility or autonomy
Ethical concerns
Compensation structures
Company values or stability
Too often, people don’t define these until after they’ve accepted a role.
By naming your dealbreakers in advance, you gain a filter you can use to:
Evaluate job opportunities more objectively
Ask stronger interview questions
Walk away from roles that don’t align, even if they look impressive
How people use the Career Clarity Canvas
Once completed, this single worksheet can support you in multiple ways:
Deciding which career paths are most interesting
Noticing recurring patterns in how you show up at your best
Creating thoughtful interview questions based on what matters to you
Evaluating job opportunities with more confidence
Knowing which roles to pursue and which to decline
Many people revisit the canvas multiple times throughout their careers, updating it as their priorities evolve.
Make job searching a whole lot easier.
Five minutes that can change your direction
The Career Clarity Canvas isn’t meant to solve your entire career in one sitting. It’s meant to give you a starting point.
If you’re at a crossroads, feeling uncertain, or simply wanting to be more intentional about your next step, this is a great place to begin.
Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from overthinking. It comes from asking the right questions and giving yourself permission to answer them honestly.
