When you think about it, our job is one of the most personal and pertinent aspects of our lives. We spend many of our waking hours working at it. It directly affects our finances and even our health and relationships. And, it oftentimes correlates to how a lot of the world perceives us.
So, while it’s easy – and sometimes necessary – to accept whatever job is offered and never look back, this graduation season we’ve got seven simple questions that will help you find not just “a” job but “your ideal” job.
Sure, your job supplies a paycheck, but that doesn’t always mean it is rewarding or the next stepping stone in your career trajectory. To zero in on a fulfilling career, take the time to carefully define what it is you want from your job by honestly answering these questions.
- What are your interests? Hobbies and jobs can be synonymous.
- What types of activities do you enjoy doing?
- What’s most important in a job: pay, enjoyment, challenging tasks, praise/recognition, philanthropy, security, flexibility, opportunity to promote?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses? Finding a job that makes the most of your strengths will likely lead to success, which makes a job more enjoyable and rewarding.
- How can you contribute most? What need is out there that your strengths can fulfill? This is important in discovering where there are job opportunities because supply and demand is always going to be a factor.
- What kind of work environment do you prefer? From the hours worked per week, to where the actual work happens, to the people you work with, the circumstances surrounding the job has a huge bearing on how rewarding it is.
- What kind of results do you want to produce? Identify what it is you want to actually accomplish in your job and the problems you’d like to solve.
These questions are all about defining your ideal job, not letting your job define your career. Write your answers down to identify what you’d like to do, what you’d be best at and the places where you’d be happiest working. If need be, enlist the help of friends, family and colleagues to define your strength zones. Then compare your answers to standard job titles across a variety of industries, and start networking within those that align with your vision.
Have you found your perfect job? Share the experience with us in the comments or on Facebook. #theONEthing