What active technique is described as high-quality external exploration, providing real-world context that a formal job description cannot capture?
Answer
Informational interviewing
External exploration, the step following internal self-awareness, requires active investigation. The text specifies that high-quality exploration goes beyond passively reading job descriptions or general research. Instead, it involves actively engaging in informational interviewing—the process of speaking directly with professionals currently occupying the desired roles. This method is invaluable because it uncovers the daily realities, challenges, and implicit expectations associated with a position, allowing an individual to test their assumptions and ensure that external possibilities truly align with their internal values, thus preventing misaligned goal setting.

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