Whether you are just graduating, considering a career change, or, like many others during this difficult economic climate, facing unemployment, it’s important to think about the right career for you. You spend so much of your time at work that it should not just be about earning money, but about doing something you love. Finding the right job can take time, but by following these top tips you can make the process a lot easier.
Focus on your passions
The first thing to do is to figure out what it is that drives and inspires you. You want to be in a job that will keep you motivated and working hard, so finding a job that you love to do will really be influenced by what you love to do in everyday life. Think about your hobbies, the subjects you enjoyed at school, what you’ve enjoyed about your current or past jobs, and any other tasks you take pleasure in performing.
Do your research
Take inspiration from other people’s success stories. Talk to people and find out what they love about their job, how they got into it and ask for any tips and advice they can give you. Have a look online for stories about people finding their ideal jobs. You might even come across jobs that you did not know existed but would be perfect for you. Understanding what other people love about their jobs will also give you some realistic ideas on what to focus on in your job search. You can even take part it online tests to help you find your ideal job. For example, the RIASEC/Holland interest scale or psychometric tests. The benefits of psychometric tests are considered here.
Consider your strengths
Think about the things you are good at doing. Whether your strengths lie in your communication, problem solving or team player skills, these could be areas to focus on when finding your dream job. It will give you something else to go on and make it easier to actually succeed in getting a job and being happy in it. They don’t need to be skills you’ve learned on the job either, consider skills you have built up through hobbies, volunteering or personal experiences.
Develop your skills
Now you have considered what skills you are good at, you might also want to consider which of your skills might need a little work. If they are relevant to your chosen career you want to improve your chances of landing your dream job by developing these skills. Try doing so in your current job, by volunteering or even taking classes.
Parting thoughts
Finding the right career will take a lot of time, energy and most importantly, patience. It won’t be easy, but it will be well worth it in the end. Don’t feel too pressurized into rushing into anything either. Take your time to really do the research and make sure you are in the right place to make such a big step. Remember, it’s never too late to find the job you love, so keep going and eventually you will land that dream job.
Leave a Reply