Finding Your Northern Star: Designing Work That Aligns with Who You Are (2026 Fall NOW Encore Series)
About
2026 NOW Encore Series (https://hr.berkeley.edu/development/career-development/workshops) Many professionals reach a point where their role no longer feels fully aligned with who they are, what they value, or how they want to contribute. This sense of being "stuck" can lead to disengagement, uncertainty, or the feeling that one's potential is underutilized — even in meaningful work. This interactive workshop offers participants space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with a clearer sense of direction. Using the concept of a personal Northern Star, participants will explore how their talents, aspirations, and the causes they care about can be integrated into a guiding framework for career decisions. Rather than assuming that fulfillment requires an immediate job change, the session expands the conversation to include multiple pathways for alignment: reshaping aspects of a current role, integrating meaningful work through projects or hobbies, or intentionally preparing for a future transition. Through a guided Northern Star exercise and a priority-mapping activity, participants will identify what matters most to them at this stage of their career, recognize areas of alignment and misalignment, and clarify where they want to invest their time and energy. The emphasis is on practical reflection that leads to actionable insight.Learning Outcomes: –Articulate the key elements of your personal Northern Star that bring clarity to your professional direction. –Assess alignment across different areas of your work and life to identify realistic opportunities for change without requiring an immediate job move. –Apply a simple prioritization approach to determine next steps that support both personal fulfillment and professional sustainability.Registrants will be sent a Zoom link and bCal invite as the virtual workshop date draws near.
