Find the Job That Is Right for You
Knowing what career path to take or what the best job is for you can be difficult for some people. Defining your perfect job requires many considerations, and where to start can be overwhelming. Below are some tips to help you find the job that is right for you.
The Self-Knowledge Base
Define the terms
“We can’t possibly find satisfaction and fulfillment if we don’t first define it.” - Marilyn Walker, Right Turn on Red Career Assessment Center.
First, define what success is to you. Then address your strengths and weaknesses around your standards of success. Finally, decide what you are passionate about, because as the old saying goes “it isn’t work, if you’re having fun”.
Brainstorm
Meet with friends or mentors to “pick their brains”. Discussing ideas with friends will help you focus your career options and give you an outsider’s point of view. Friends are also great to bounce ideas and thoughts off of as they usually have a keen insight on what your likes and dislikes are.
Test yourself
Use career assessment tests to find objective data about your hidden strengths. Tests like the Myer-Briggs Career Report or the Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential (MAPP) can help clarify one’s aptitude, personal interests, and many personality factors.
The Focused Search
Target
Get your thoughts down on paper, and organize them in to categorizes. Decide your preferences, and target them. Doing this will help you weed out any unlikely paths for you.
Research
Do your research, know who’s hiring, what the latest trends are, and what you are worth. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics or a salary calculator can provide salary information based on your education and experience levels.
Get in touch
Networking is a huge resource when you are on the hunt for that perfect job. Getting in touch with people in industries of interest to you will help open the doors to new opportunities and information.
Follow through
“Don’t assume a company isn’t hiring because they don’t have a job posted.” - Bob Basile, of Career Coaching, Inc
Do your homework, and go for it. Perseverance is critical when it comes to landing the perfect job.