10 Questions That Make Your Next Career Move Clear (and How to Act on Them)
When your job changes overnight, the first thing most people do is tidy their resume. That helps, but it rarely changes anything deep. The real shift happens when you ask clear questions and write honest answers. That’s what Christine Carter shows in Restart Strong, with practical exercises that turn the fog of uncertainty into a map you can follow.
Below are ten questions pulled from the book, each with a plain explanation, a short example, and a friendly, doable action you can take right away. Answer them, write the answers down, and schedule the tiny next steps. That simple routine is what makes change real.
Start with a short story
Maya had worked in the same company for 12 years. After a layoff, she felt lost, then frantic. She updated her resume, sent a few applications, and then stalled. Finally she sat down with ten focused questions. Her answers showed she loved mentoring and problem solving, not long commutes or corporate politics. She used that clarity to filter opportunities and to tell a clear story in interviews. Three months later she accepted a role with remote work, a leadership track, and the day-to-day work she actually enjoyed. The change began with questions, then quiet action.
How to use these questions
Answer each question in one or two sentences. Don’t aim for perfection. The point is to get clear, not to finish a thesis. After each answer, pick one small, specific action you will do in the next seven days. Put it on your calendar. That is how insight becomes progress.
1) What gets you out of bed and fires you up?
What it uncovers: The parts of work that give you energy, not just tasks you tolerate.
How to think about it: List three things that you would do even if you were not paid for them.
Example: Helping a teammate solve a tricky problem; turning a messy process into a simple one; teaching someone a new skill.
Action, friend-style: Circle your top three energizers and search job descriptions for those three words this week. If at least two show up in a role, add it to your "maybe" list.
2) Which parts of your last job mattered to you most?
What it uncovers: The specific pieces of a past role that were meaningful, even if the job overall was not.
How to think about it: Break your last role into five core activities. Rate each on a scale of 1 (hate it) to 5 (love it).
Example: You might rate mentoring a 5, presentations a 2, and data analysis a 4.
Action, friend-style: Reword three bullets on your resume to highlight the things you scored 4 or 5.
3) What are you really good at, and which strengths are sitting unused?
What it uncovers: Skills you can use tomorrow, and lost strengths you can revive.
How to think about it: Include paid work, volunteer work, hobbies, and roles in your family or community.
Example: Strong listening and coaching skills that only showed up in volunteer roles.
Action, friend-style: Pick one unused strength and show it in a small project (volunteer, freelance, or a side task) within 30 days.
4) What skills will your future role demand, and how will you get them?
What it uncovers: The gap between your current skills and the ones you need next.
How to think about it: Pick one target job and list the top three required skills, then mark which you already have.
Example: A marketing role might require analytics, SEO basics, and stakeholder storytelling; you may already have storytelling.
Action, friend-style: Make a 90-day plan to learn one new skill in small chunks (30 minutes a day, three times a week). Sign up for one class or schedule three informational calls.
5) What are your top five work values, and how do you show them?
What it uncovers: The conditions you need to do your best work.
How to think about it: Choose words that mean something to you and give a short example for each.
Example values: Clarity, fairness, autonomy, connection, growth.
Action, friend-style: Put your top two values into your LinkedIn about section as simple phrase, like "I value clear goals and honest feedback."
6) What does a typical day in your ideal job look like?
What it uncovers: The daily rhythm and lifestyle that must fit your work choices.
How to think about it: Describe your perfect workday from morning to night in 5–7 sentences.
Example: Start the day with focused solo work, two short meetings, one hour mentoring a colleague, then two hours of deep work, finish by 5 p.m.
Action, friend-style: Use that description to say yes or no to roles. If a recruiter can’t describe a day similar to yours, move on.
7) How do you define success right now, and how might that change in three years?
What it uncovers: Your short-term priorities and a path forward.
How to think about it: Be concrete. Put a measurable target on what success looks like this year.
Example: "By December I will be in a role where I lead projects and have two direct reports, and I feel less stressed about work-life balance."
Action, friend-style: Turn that into a weekly checklist of small wins that move you toward the target.
8) What story do you tell about your transition?
What it uncovers: The narrative you bring to conversations and interviews, which shapes how people see you.
How to think about it: Identify a pivotal moment, list what you gained, and craft a short exit/entry sentence.
EXAMPLE from the book: “I had a great experience at [Company], and now I’m exploring new opportunities in [new direction or field].”
Action, friend-style: Practice your 30-second transition story three times before using it in networking or interviews.
9) Who will hold you accountable, and how will you connect them?
What it uncovers: Your support network and a plan to activate it.
How to think about it: List mentors, peers, a coach, and groups. Give each person one clear, small ask.
Example: Ask a former colleague to review your resume, a friend to join a weekly check-in, or a networking group to share job leads.
Action, friend-style: Schedule five outreach actions this week and put them on your calendar. Small, steady moves beat rare, big efforts.
10) What one word will guide this chapter?
What it uncovers: A simple touchstone to return to when choices feel messy.
How to think about it: Choose one word that captures your aim, for example Clarity, Renewal, or Focus.
Example: The book suggests making the word visible, putting it on your desk or phone lock screen.
Action, friend-style: Pick one word today, tell one person about it, and use it as a quick check when deciding about roles.
Small but powerful habits that make answers stick
- Write your answers on paper or type them into a short digital file you review weekly. The act of writing makes your plans real.
- Do a quick “State of Me” check once a month. Reread your answers and adjust a single action if you need to.
- Use the answers to sharpen your resume and LinkedIn, not to rewrite your whole life story. Focus on what matters most.
A quote that nails the mindset
One line in the book cuts through fear and keeps the heart open, “Rejection is God’s redirection.” Say it when an opportunity falls through and you feel defeated. It helps you shift from blame to curiosity about what’s next.
A small, practical plan you can start today
- Set a timer for 90 minutes this weekend.
- Answer questions 1–5 in the first 45 minutes. Answer 6–10 in the next 45 minutes. Keep it simple.
- From each question pick one action and add it to your calendar this week.
- Tell one person your top three answers and ask them to check in next week.
Why this works
Most career problems are not about skill or luck. They are about clarity and follow-through. When you know what energizes you, what you can offer, and what you will not accept, decision-making becomes easier. The tiny actions are the engine. Write your answers, then keep the appointment with yourself to move one small step each week.
One last question to move you forward
Which of these ten questions will change your next career decision, and what is one small action you will schedule this week to test it?