Reflect on experience

Before you look at any ideas, spend some time with your own experience, in your current role or an earlier one. It gives you a solid basis for understanding what you want from a role.

Explore what matters

These cards are ideas to help you think, not a list to complete. Choose any that matter to you, then put each one into your own words below. Add anything that isn't here.

Set your red lines

What would make you say no?

Your deal breakers are things you would rule out, however attractive other parts of a role seemed. They might be practical limits, such as relocation, travel, hours or a minimum salary, or conditions and behaviour you wouldn't accept.

Deal makers and nice to haves

Below are the things you identified in Step 2. Which would most influence your choice, and which would be nice to have?

Your checklist so far

Your deal breakers from Step 3 stay separate. You can change anything here before you move on.

Make them specific

You've identified what matters to you. Now describe what each of these would look like in a role, so you know what to look for or ask about.

Compare and choose a next step

Hold your checklist up against your current role, or your most recent one if you've been made redundant or taken a break. It can show how much of what you want is already there, and whether a few changes or a conversation could make a difference. The comparison is optional.