[K-Women Talk] Office Workers Who Want Success and the "Philosophy of Work"

"Why Do I Do This Work?" Setting Clear Goals
Knowing Yourself Is Key to Successful Career Moves
Start with Small Steps Like a "Happy Work Diary"

Munsun Kyung, Executive Director at Unico Search

Most office workers dream of "success." So, what would you say is important for achieving that success? I would answer career growth.

The density of time spent at a company is more important than the duration. If time passes without growth, it is necessary to reconsider your current workplace and how you perform your tasks. However, in reality, "career growth" is not an easy matter. Looking back at the parents' generation, where the three guarantees of promotion, salary increase, and job security were taken for granted, simply getting a job somewhat ensured career growth.

But what about now? It is no longer a given that new employees can find a mentor or senior at the company, and even experienced workers suffer from burnout and monotony. Industries change rapidly. As seen in the recent TMON and WEMAKEPRICE incidents, even e-commerce startups that were once in the spotlight now face sudden layoffs. We live in an era where we must constantly question and reflect on ourselves to set our own goals, moving away from a passive attitude.

Then, what is the benchmark for judging career growth? The answer is "work philosophy," which is the response that runs through the three questions: "Why do I do this work?" "What do I work for?" and "What kind of life do I want to live?"

As a headhunter, I often ask people I meet this question: "What is your career goal?" For those seeking a job change, I ask to emphasize career growth; for applicants going through the job change process, I ask to verify if they truly want this change. Surprisingly, many applicants are caught off guard by this question. Also, the reasons for changing jobs often do not align well with their career goals. Not everyone's career goal needs to be grand, nor do they all have to be the same. However, it is important to clearly know what you want. Only by knowing what you want can you determine if the job change you are considering is the right choice.

Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, creators of Stanford d.school's "Design Thinking" course, present five concrete practical guides for newly building a work philosophy in their book Designing Your New Work Life. First is curiosity. The world is an interesting place, so look at the world, your surroundings, and new environments with curious eyes. Second is action orientation?try anything. Third, grasp the essence of problems by deconstructing existing details and recombining new elements to "reconstruct." Fourth, instead of worrying alone, go out into the world, communicate with interesting people, and ask for help. Lastly, complete your own storytelling through the previous steps.

If starting feels burdensome, I recommend keeping a happy work diary. Observe and record your thoughts, feelings, and actions at work, then document what you discover about your workplace and duties. What did you learn? What new tasks did you start? Who did you help? What did you discover in this process? Sometimes, what seems like a routine or valuable task to you can be meaningful.

When Alice in Wonderland asked the Cheshire Cat which way to go, the answer was, "That depends on a good deal on where you want to get to."

If you want success at work, define your work philosophy, set your dreams and vision, and practice even small things.

Moon Seon-kyung, Executive Director, Unico Search