Write s formal letter to your future workplace

Tips on what to think about in writing your letter to your professional self:

• 
  What excites you when you think the word "career"?
  
• 
  What attributes, strengths, and skills do you love to exercise regularly?
  
• 
  What do you know you can do well?
  
• 
  What has been the biggest professional accomplishment in your professional life and why?
  
• 
  What would your Co-worker say, if asked about your strengths (personal, professional)?
  
• 
  What are the careers you admire most and why?
  
• 
  On a scale from 1-10 what is most important: Money, Location, Training, Decision-Making Authority, Team Members, Work Life Balance (flexibility), Permanency, Advancement, Childcare Options, Education Subsidies
  
• 
  What would make you happy to go to work each day?
  
• 
  What do think is missing the most in your career right now? What would be on your career bucket list?
  
• 
  What could you do to put you on the path of getting what you want?
  

Photo: courtesy of careeraddict.com
The important part is to just be honest. This is your professional journey and no one else's. It is what you decide to make it!
You can write it as long as you do not open it until the date or you can use FutureMe.org (futureme.org) to send an email to yourself and have it delivered sometime in the future..you decide when!

1. 
   
   Choose an age. Before doing anything else, decide how old you want your future self to be when you read this letter. You may want to read the letter when you’re 18, 25, or 30 years old. Choosing an age will help you define the goals you want to achieve by that time in your life.[1]
   
   • 
     You may want to choose an age that puts you in different circumstances than you are currently in. If you write the letter as a freshman in high school and read it when you’re in college, you’ll be able to see how much your life has changed and whether or not your goals have been met.
     

Be casual. You’re writing this letter to yourself, so don’t feel you have to take a formal tone. Write as though you are talking to your best friend.[2]

• 
  When talking about your current self in this letter, use “I” language. When talking about your future self in this letter, use “you” language.
  

Summarize your current self. Your letter should start with a quick reminder of who you currently are. Think about mentioning your recent accomplishments, such as a 4.0 GPA, and current interests, including extracurricular activities. This will allow you to see how much your life has changed since you wrote the letter.[3]
Note your fears. Think about fears you may have, such as speaking in front of a group, moving out after high school, or not getting accepted at the college you want to go to. You’ll be able to see if you’ve overcome these issues in the future. Also, thinking about them now may help you realize that they may not be so bad after all, or even help you come up with strategies to cope or a backup plan.[4]
Identify your key values and beliefs. Ask yourself what guides the current you. Your belief system (whether religious or secular) and your personal code of ethics play a large role in your actions. Making yourself conscious of your values can help shape your ideas of who you want to be in the future.[5]

• 
  Include information about your church, if you belong to one, or values like accepting everyone’s faith, or lack thereof. Add morals that guide you, such as always being kind, or helping others in need.
  

Note your skills and abilities. Pick out a few skills or abilities you can clearly identify in your current life, like winning a tennis tournament, leading the marching band, or organizing school functions. You may be a great writer or excel at math. Thinking about what you are good at now can help you decide what you want to accomplish later in life.[6]
Define your goals and hopes. Write about things that are important to you now, such as playing varsity soccer or getting into a good college. You should also think about what you hope to accomplish in the future, such as travel to Europe, publish an article in a magazine, or get your band a gig.[7]