Why Self-Awareness Is the First Step in Planning Your Career

But years down the line, many of these people feel stuck, lost or frustrated — not because they’re not talented, but because they never paused to ask:
“Who am I really, and what do I want?”

That’s where self-awareness comes in.

Before you chase a career goal, start a business, or pick a course — you need to know yourself.

In this post, I’ll show you why self-awareness is the first step in planning your career, how it impacts every major decision, and simple ways to develop it, no matter where you are right now.

What Is Self-Awareness?

Self-awareness is your ability to recognise, understand and reflect on who you are.

It includes:

Your values
Your strengths
Your weaknesses
Your motivations
Your personality
Your emotional patterns
Your preferred working style

In simple terms:
It’s knowing what makes you tick — and what ticks you off.

Without this clarity, you’ll find yourself copying others, chasing success that doesn’t satisfy, or burning out in a path that never fit you in the first place.

Why Self-Awareness Matters for Career Planning

1. It Helps You Choose the Right Path (Not Just a Popular One)

In Nigeria, it’s common to hear:

“Study law — you’ll always have a job.”
“Go for medicine — it’s respectable.”
“Tech is paying now. Learn design or data.”

But not everyone is wired for law, medicine, or tech.

When you know your personality, strengths, and preferences, you can choose a career that:

Feels natural
Plays to your strengths
Challenges you in the right way

Self-awareness helps you say:
“This is who I am — and here’s what fits me best.”

2. It Saves You Time, Energy and Years of Confusion

Many people waste years hopping from one course, job or hustle to another — not because they’re lazy or unserious, but because they never understood themselves well enough to commit to one thing.

When you’re self-aware:

You waste less time on what doesn’t suit you
You avoid burnout by choosing what aligns with your energy
You learn faster because your learning is focused

You stop asking “What should I do with my life?”
And start asking “What can I do with who I already am?”

3. It Builds Confidence in Your Decisions

When you understand your core strengths, values, and working style, you make better career choices — not out of fear or pressure, but with clarity and confidence.

You’re less swayed by trends or external expectations.

And when things get tough (because they will), you don’t quit easily — because you know you’re still on the right path.

4. It Helps You Communicate Your Value

Whether you’re writing a CV, going for an interview, networking, or starting a business — you need to know and express your value clearly.

Self-awareness helps you:

Speak confidently about your strengths
Identify your growth areas (and work on them)
Set boundaries in your career
Choose roles or industries that fit

It’s the difference between:
❌ “I just want any job.”
✅ “I’m looking for a role where I can apply my strength in storytelling and communication to help brands grow.”

See the power?

How to Build Self-Awareness (Even If You’ve Never Tried)

Let’s break it down into practical steps:

🔹 1. Reflect on Your Past Wins and Struggles

Ask yourself:

When have I felt most alive or fulfilled?
What kind of work makes me lose track of time?
What do people often praise me for?
What tasks do I avoid (and why)?
What achievements am I most proud of?

Clues are hidden in your past experiences — both good and bad.

🔹 2. Take Personality or Strengths Tests

Use tools like:

16Personalities (MBTI) – www.16personalities.com
Clifton Strengths (Paid)
DISC Profile
Enneagram Test

While these tools aren’t perfect, they give you language to describe how you think, relate and work best.

🔹 3. Journal Your Emotions and Triggers

Self-awareness includes understanding your emotional reactions — not just your skills.

Notice:

What frustrates you at work?
When do you feel most drained?
What kind of environments inspire or suffocate you?

Track patterns. They reveal more than you think.

🔹 4. Ask for Feedback

Ask close friends, mentors, or past teammates:

What do you think I’m naturally good at?
What strengths have you noticed in me?
Where do you think I could improve?

Sometimes, others see in us what we miss in ourselves.

🔹 5. Get Quiet — and Listen to Yourself

In a noisy world of reels, tweets, WhatsApp groups, and pressure to “blow”, we rarely pause to just be still and listen.

You can’t become self-aware in a hurry.

Set time aside each week to:

Think about your journey
Revisit your goals
Reconnect with your inner compass

This stillness is where real clarity comes.

What to Do With Your Self-Awareness

Once you’ve gained insight into who you are, put it to work:

Pick a career path or niche that aligns with your strengths
Set goals that feel meaningful, not just trendy
Choose learning opportunities based on how you learn best
Create boundaries around the work you’ll accept
Build a personal brand that reflects your true voice

Self-awareness isn’t just for clarity — it’s for action.

Real-Life Example: How Self-Awareness Changed a Career Path

I once worked with a client who had spent years trying different “profitable” skills — from graphic design to forex to affiliate marketing. Nothing stuck.

After a series of coaching sessions, he realised:

He was more of a strategist than a doer
He loved writing and coaching
He worked best in flexible, solo environments

Instead of chasing trends, he built a niche around content strategy for creators — and within 12 months, built a stable business serving clients across Africa and Europe.

Clarity wins. Every time.

Conclusion

Before you plan your career, chase new skills, or enrol in another online course — pause.

Ask the real questions:

Who am I?
What matters to me?
What environments bring out my best?

Self-awareness won’t give you a full five-year plan.
But it will give you something more valuable — direction.

Because when you know yourself, every step you take becomes more intentional.

And when your career is built on intention, not impulse — it lasts.

Introduction