Why Updating Your CV Won’t Fix Your Career
Jennifer Ong
Career Change Coach (BlackRock > Style Theory > Founder Ctrl Alt Career) || LinkedIn Top Voice
Most people think career planning starts with updating their CV or sending out job applications.
But the truth is — it starts way before that.
Before making any move, you need to pause. Reflect. Ask yourself the tough questions:
What do I actually want from my career?
What parts of my job drain me?
What am I trying to prove — and to whom?
At Ctrl Alt Career, we work with high-achieving professionals in Singapore and beyond — people who are good at what they do but feel like something’s missing. And the #1 thing that helps them find clarity?
Self-reflection.
Why Self-Reflection Matters More Than Ever
Self-reflection means taking a step back to look inward — zooming out from your day-to-day grind to understand what truly matters to you.
In a fast-paced place like Singapore, where everyone’s chasing the next promotion or title, reflection often falls by the wayside. But without it, you risk waking up in a “perfect on paper” job that’s missing what you really need.
That’s where career counselling comes in.
Career Counselling Isn’t Just About Resumes
It’s about asking better questions — and unlearning what you thought success should look like.
When we work with clients at Ctrl Alt Career, self-reflection forms the foundation:
What lights you up?
What are your non-negotiables?
What strengths do you want to use more?
What problems excite you to solve?
Most of us never learned how to reflect on our careers this way — and that’s why so many stay stuck longer than necessary.
3 Self-Reflection Tools We Use With Our Coaching Clients
If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about your next step, try these:
1. Career Story Mapping Write your career like a story — from your first job to now. Highlight what you loved, what drained you, and why you made each move. Look for patterns. (Hint: A coach can help you connect the dots you might miss.)
2. The 10-Year Vision Exercise Close your eyes and imagine your life 10 years from now — not just your job title, but your lifestyle, energy, impact. What are you doing? Who are you working with? How do you feel? Then reverse-engineer your next steps from that vision.
3. Strengths x Joy Matrix Draw a 2x2 grid. On one axis, list what you’re good at; on the other, what you enjoy. Your sweet spot is where strengths and joy meet — that’s your career gold.
A Quick Reality Check: Clarity Doesn’t Always Come First
One of the biggest misconceptions? That you need total clarity before taking any action.
The truth is clarity often comes from action. That’s why at Ctrl Alt Career, we help clients reflect — but also get moving, experimenting, exploring.
Sometimes, what looks perfect on paper is exactly what’s keeping you stuck.
Ready to Start Your Career Journey?
Ask yourself:
What’s really not working in my current job?
What am I afraid to admit to myself about my career?
If I could start fresh — no fear, no pressure — what would I do?
Write it down. No judgment. Just honesty.
If you want someone to help you make sense of it all — not with empty platitudes like “follow your passion” or “just rebrand your LinkedIn,” but with real, actionable guidance — we’re here.
Book a free discovery call with me and my team at Ctrl Alt Career, we’d love to see how we can help. https://link.salesable.co/widget/appointment/team-cac/li
Totally. I see so many people stuck in that cycle. It's like, we're all told to just *do* more, but no one tells you to actually *think* about what you're doing. That question about what you're running from... that hits hard.
IT Compliance Manager | IT GRC Strategist
1moThanks for sharing, Jennifer. This post is a powerful reminder that career progress isn’t always about moving forward; it’s about moving inward. Many high performers overlook the importance of self-awareness in their pursuit of success, mistakenly equating external achievements with true fulfilment.