How self-reflection can support your career longevity

Last year, after many conversations with trusted confidants and a months-long internal battle, I realized that my role at the time wasn’t aligned with my values and career goals. Rather than immediately re-enter the job market, as many recent-ish grads might, I traded in the role for a sabbatical to cultivate a renewed sense of purpose and clarity in my pharmacy career. Since then, I’ve made huge progress and had the chance to explore other creative and career goals within and beyond pharmacy. While stepping back may not seem like the most strategic move for someone early in their career as a pharmacist, I’m certain that the lessons and skills I’ve acquired during this time will continue to serve my career (and life) in the long run. To support you in making thoughtful career decisions before reaching a crossroads, in this article I want to share learnings from something I’ve been thinking a lot about: the role of self-reflection in career longevity. Career longevity is how long a person remains employed in a particular field or company—not just in terms of time, but in a way that feels purposeful, engaging, and sustainable. We care about career longevity because whether or not we attain our career goals and aspirations depends on it. Whether your goals are primarily financial, impact-based, or more personal, if they are poorly aligned with where you are and what you’re working toward, it will likely show sooner or later in your energy levels, engagement with your work, and relationships. Okay, so we get that career longevity matters. But what does self-reflection have to do with it? Self-reflection is a purposeful and curious looking inward—an examination of our thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and what lies beneath them: our values and beliefs. If we don’t know what we value, how can we make decisions that are aligned with what we want in life? Too often, in the loudness of the modern world, we unwittingly allow external influences—the opinions of peers, prestige, or trends—to guide our decisions. Although these factors can be part of the equation, I would argue that who you are is always more important. Okay; onto the good stuff! Are you ready for your career longevity check-in?First, ask yourself a few questions:What are your strengths? This free, scientifically validated survey can provide insight. Research shows that putting your character strengths to use in the workplace can boost performance and well-being.What are your values? This tool can help you find out. Aligning your behaviours with your ideal values is an effective way to reduce stress, improve life satisfaction and decision-making.What are your career goals? Some people prioritize day-to-day enjoyment in their career, others income, and still others alignment with their personal values. It’s okay (and encouraged) to be aspirational here. If you have a long list, highlight your three highest priority goals. Assess how your responses to the above questions align with your current role and career trajectory. Are your strengths being utilized to some extent? Are your values reflected in your work? Are your career goals being met, or is it likely that they will be met with progression? Note down what you find. Know that you don’t have to act on everything (or anything) you identify as not ideal. Instead, you can evaluate how much each finding matters to you and use this information as data points to fuel future career research and decisions. This can be anything from setting up a coffee chat to advocating for a new learning opportunity in your current role, to blazing your nontraditional career path.It’s also important to acknowledge external factors that can significantly shape our ability to adjust course, like limited opportunities for advancement, job market saturation, or rising costs of living. Alongside these practical realities, while self-reflection can be a powerful tool for clarity and growth, it is sometimes confused with self-rumination: repetitive, critical thinking that leads to stress rather than insight. The two can feel similar at first, but reflection is curious and constructive, while rumination tends to loop without resolution. If you notice yourself getting stuck in harsh self-judgment or overthinking, try grounding with a walk outdoors, gentle movement like yoga, or journaling. And if it feels overwhelming, a therapist or career coach can help you navigate these questions with support and perspective.The role of the pharmacist, and we as humans, are constantly evolving. Just as it’s important to support scope of practice expansions with funding, continuing education, and appropriate staffing levels, we should honour our personal and professional evolution with periodic check-ins. I hope these exercises help you reflect on whether your current path serves your future self, and if not, spark ideas for gently re-routing or experimenting with new directions. I’d love to hear what comes up for you: what discoveries about your strengths, values, or goals are guiding your current path?

How self-reflection can support your career longevity

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Dian Han

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