A not-too-serious look back at your working year...

If you opened Spotify Wrapped recently, you probably got an eerily accurate (or slightly questionable) snapshot of your year in music - what you replayed, what defined your mood, and what somehow snuck into your top five.

Careers, however, don’t come with graphs, playlists or algorithms (probably for the best). But 2025 will definitely have had its own recurring themes. Meetings that could’ve been emails. Projects that took on a life of their own. Moments where you thought, “well… that escalated quickly.” and hopefully some highlights that make you feel proud of the choices you've made, opportunities you've leant into and people that have supported you along the way.

Why bother reflecting?

From a recruitment perspective, this is one of the most underrated career habits.

Most people move straight from one year to the next without stopping to notice what actually happened — what stretched them, what drained them, and what quietly moved them forward. Then, when they’re asked “What are you looking for next?” or “What kind of role suits you now?”, they struggle to articulate it.

Reflection helps you:

• Spot patterns in what energises or frustrates you
• Recognise progress you’d otherwise brush off
• Get clearer on what actually matters in your next role 

It’s also a rare opportunity to give yourself some credit before setting new expectations for the year ahead.

So here’s a chance to do your 2025 Career Wrapped.

No algorithms. No judgement. Just a light-hearted pause before 2026 kicks off and a chance to make sense of the year you’ve just lived at work. Grab a pen and paper or open up your development tracker as I take you through each section with a series of prompts or questions.

Your Top 5 Career Moments

Let's start with reflecting on which moments from work would you replay?

These don’t have to be promotions or big announcements, but highlights here you've felt proud, made an impact, achieved a great result, overcome a hurdle.

Think:

• A meeting that went better than expected
• A project you finally saw through
• A tricky conversation you handled with more confidence than last year
• The moment you realised you actually know what you’re doing

These moments often say more about your readiness for progression than your job title ever will.

Your Wins (Including the Quiet Ones)

What are you genuinely proud of this year?

In recruitment conversations, we often see people downplay these but how you navigate them can demonstrate critical leadership skills so many organisations are looking for:

• Getting through a tough period without burning out
• Making a difficult, but right decision
• Learning something new on the job
• Setting boundaries
• Choosing to stay when leaving would’ve been easier

Quiet wins still count. They’re often the foundations of long-term career resilience.

Skills on Repeat

If your year had a playlist, what skills were on heavy rotation?

Maybe it was:

• Stakeholder juggling
• Problem-solving on the fly
• Managing people for the first time
• Staying calm when everything felt urgent

These are the skills employers actually care about and the ones you should be confident talking about when opportunities arise.

Your Career Genre

If you had to sum up your year in one phrase, what would it be?

• Growth with a side of chaos?
• Holding it together?
• Learning as you go?
• Quietly levelling up?

Naming the “genre” helps you understand whether your career is currently in a building phase, a stabilising phase, or ready for a shift.

Your Supporting Cast

Who made work better this year?

Colleagues, managers, teams, mentors — or simply someone who made work feel lighter on tough days. Noticing this helps you recognise what kind of environment you thrive in, which is just as important as the role itself.

The Tracks You Skipped

What didn’t work for you this year?

This might be:

• Meetings that went nowhere
• Ways of working that drained your energy
• Tasks you’ve outgrown or want less of

Understanding what you don’t want is often the clearest signal of what needs to change next.

Your 2026 Remix

What is one small change you want to make next year?

Nothing dramatic. Just a remix:

• Saying no sooner
• Having career conversations earlier
• Protecting your time
• Being clearer about what you want, even if you’re not ready to move yet

Small, intentional shifts usually lead to the biggest long-term changes.

Bonus Track: Your 2026 Vibe

When you think about next year, what do you want more of?

• Balance?
• Challenge?
• Stability?
• Space to think?
• Or maybe a fresh chapter altogether?

Being honest about this makes future decisions, whether that’s staying, progressing or exploring, far less reactive.

Final thought

Careers are messy, non-linear and rarely wrapped up neatly. But taking a moment to look back can help you feel clearer, more confident and more grounded about what’s next.

And from a talent perspective? The people who reflect are almost always the people who make the strongest, most intentional career moves.

If reflecting on your 2025 has raised questions about what’s next, whether that’s progression where you are, a future move, or simply sense-checking your options, we’re always happy to talk.

At Tile Hill, we work with people at all stages of their careers across the public sector and civil society - from local government, central government, housing and built environment and not-for-profit. We have conversations with leaders - permanent, interim or non-executive directors, that are honest and supportive. We can talk to you about the current market, your opportunities for progression and career moves you might be considering - with informed insight to help you make decisions that feel right for you in 2026.

Some of the team are working across the festive break, and you can find the best person to book a call with across Executive Search or Executive Interim team.