Are you motivated by challenges and seek growth and fulfillment or do you just go to work to collect a paycheck?

There are those who have jobs and there are those who seek careers. If you care more about title, status or money, you can stop reading this post right now. This article is not for you. 

There are employees out there who read the job description and provide the basic deliverables — no more, no less. They are clock watchers who spend a good part of the day counting how many hours until quitting time. Then, they flee in a burst of enthusiasm, as though they have been released from captivity.

By and large, many (but not all) of these employees have never nor will ever be connected to their jobs in a meaningful way. Their jobs are not part of their identity. How they spend their waking hours while working is not a catalyst for fulfillment, let alone greatness. Perhaps they have passions outside of work or perhaps they don’t. But one thing is for sure: There is little hope that these employees will ever get all fired up with enthusiasm.

The segment that I am focusing on is employees who are seeking a compelling career but are unhappy with their jobs. If this is you, then you must ask yourself what’s missing. Getting at the root cause will help you identify what path you need to pursue. Determine what’s important to you in your career. We all have different drivers.

Here is what you need to ask yourself:

• Is it important to work with others, or are you more of an individual contributor?

Seduced by his pedigree, one of my clients once hired a Harvard graduate. But it turned out this employee was unhappy in his role, which was very externally focused. When I asked him what would make him happy, he said, “Outline my responsibilities, put me in my cubicle, and I will deliver.” In other words, being part of a team or being client-facing was not his mojo.

Think about whether you enjoy partnering with others, sharing ideas and derive energy from collaboration. If you are task-driven and do not have a need to connect with others, you should seek out a role that is based on spreadsheets or data analytics with minimal need for consultation with others.

• What type of boss do you best thrive under?

Some employees seek out a very hands-on style and others prefer lots of latitude. Ask yourself if you require ongoing feedback with continual oversight or whether you do your best work when you are provided with free reign.