Discover hidden themes by mapping your career river

This week we’re going to try out an exercise to reframe your career as a river instead of a linear path. It will help uncover any patterns in the type of work you are most interested in pursuing, regardless of job title.

Want your very own Map Your Career River worksheet? Become a supporter of Explore Your Career River today for an instant download! This exercise has been updated with example maps, new models for defining progress and guidance to uncover periods of flow, challenges and hazards.

Katherine Nagasawa recently completed this exercise, revealing the common thread among her jobs in journalism and producing digital history curriculums. After 10 minutes, she said the finished sketch showed her how she had built up skills that translated to her current role as engagement and impact manager at El Tímpano, a nonprofit newsroom that serves Oakland’s Latino and Mayan immigrant communities.

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“I can see how so much of the skills for each role can translate,” she said. “To know that I can bring that to different spaces or different roles is so heartening.”

Grab something to write with and something to write on, and feel free to adjust these instructions however makes sense to you. Ready?