“Hey Zach, I feel like I’m just going with the ebb and flow of opportunities—I want to take control. How can I stop drifting and take ownership of my career direction?”
That question came up in one of our Blueprint Q&A sessions—and it’s way more common than you might think.
To stop drifting and take ownership of your career direction, you can follow these steps:
We pulled insights directly from over 200 episodes of The Happy Engineer Podcast to answer this exact question — real strategies shared by top engineering leaders and career experts. You’ll find links to the exact episodes referenced below.
How can I stop drifting and take ownership of my career direction?
How do I rebuild confidence after bombing past interviews?
Failing an interview stings, but it’s far from the end of your story. Every engineer faces setbacks – it’s how you respond that defines your growth.
The key is to treat your confidence like an engineering project: debug the issues, rebuild step by step, and optimize your approach for next time. Here’s a supportive game plan to help you move forward without shame and with renewed confidence:
#1 – Seek Clarity
Begin by defining what success looks like for you across your whole life, not just your career. This involves knowing your goals and what you truly want. Consider setting up a career clarity call with a coach to help you take initial steps towards gaining this clarity.
#2 – Personal Brand
Understand and articulate the value you create in your organization and line of work. This is more than just updating your LinkedIn profile or resume; it’s about knowing and communicating your unique contributions and strengths.
#3 – Ask Questions
It’s okay to feel confused and to ask questions about your career direction. Reflect on what you truly want, whether to stay technical or move into management, and write down the questions that linger in your mind. Take time to ponder and answer these questions authentically.
#4 – Take Action
Identify the main roadblocks holding you back and create a game plan or roadmap to achieve the results you desire. This might involve setting up a career growth audit with a coach to explore these roadblocks and actions needed.
#5 – Get Support
If you feel stuck or afraid, seek support from mentors, coaches, peers, or loved ones. Let them know your goals and lean on them for guidance and encouragement.
#6 – Avoid Burnout
Be mindful of burnout and take steps to prevent it. Recognize the signs early and make necessary adjustments to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
By following these steps, you can take meaningful action to gain control over your career direction and work towards achieving your goals.
👉 If you’d like support taking ownership on your direction and accelerating your career growth, send me a DM—I’d love to talk about how we can help.
References – Exact episodes and timestamps where this advice appears:
037: Multiply Your Impact by Owning Your Career with Lauren Herring
010: Choose Passion AND Enjoy Success
019: FAANG Success – How to Get Into Big Tech with Meta Leader Mauricio Nunes
123: Are You on the Road to Burnout? | The Unspoken Pandemic
145: Secret Guide to Communicating with Business Teams with Chris Fenning
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