Figuring Out What You Are Good At

Figuring Out What You're Good At

Before taking the leap into the workforce, think of how you can match your skills and passion to a suitable career in order to achieve the ultimate fulfilment at work.

Although goals may change and you may take up to 10 years to ultimately find yourself in your desired role and industry, your first step in job hunting should be asking yourself what you can, or want, to bring to the table.

The best time to do this is before graduation. Look at potential jobs and career paths that you might be passionate about instead of seeing them as something you need to do just to make a living. After all, if the prospect of getting to work in the morning doesn’t motivate you, and you can’t see yourself being willing to persevere through tough times, especially when the going gets tough – it’ll be especially challenging to succeed in that particular role or industry.

Finding your raison d’être – your reason for being – can help you realise what you love doing and are good at. By understanding your passions and getting a job that fulfils you as a person, chances are you’ll find contentment in growing your talent and developing your skills.

So, what are some of the factors you need to look at to understand what fulfils you? Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help guide you along as you cross over to the working world.

What are you good at? What do you love?

What are some of your best skill sets and strengths? What are some of your personality traits and technical skills? Would you prefer to specialise in a certain area or would you prefer a job that lets you multitask?

Take your temperament into consideration as well. Figure out if you work better when left alone at your desk or when you’re constantly interacting with others. Work out if you’re more comfortable working with strict office hours and in rigid structures, or prefer flexible working hours that needs a lot of self-discipline.

By understanding what makes you tick, you’ll be able to know what will help you work more efficiently. But even before that, it’ll give you the boost you need to fathom where you should be professionally, and will also get you one step closer to your dream job.

What do you care about? What does the world need?

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Make sure your career goals are in line with your personal morals and values; they’ll go a long way in ensuring success.

For example, if you care deeply about animal welfare, consider joining a nonprofit organisation to make a difference, or go into veterinary science to specialise in helping animals. What do you enjoy doing during your downtime? Your hobbies can offer some insight into what holds your attention, so pinpoint what you like or dislike to figure out what you can or cannot accept in your career path. Moreover, it’s worth developing abilities and skills in the areas that can catch and hold your interest.

Your choice of profession will, in a way, serve your community as well as the world at large. So exploring potential career paths is a way of unwrapping your gifts and finding out how they can help you give back.

Despite present dreary economic prospects and the ongoing pandemic, think of how you can best use your skills to contribute. While you’ll have to think in terms of short-term economic trends and market forecasts, don’t forget to consider how you would like to grow both professionally and personally in the longterm as well.

Flourish and bloom

Because you’ll be spending up to 50 hours at work each week – around 200 hours a month – it makes more sense to examine each job offer carefully rather than chasing one ideal role, all while keeping the four aforementioned questions in mind.

Additionally, do also think of the following three points when considering your job offers:

Who would you rather work with? What challenges can you take on?

The workplace is often full of challenges, and these challenges can feel amplified for a fresh graduate with little to no work experience.

For example, an introvert can carve out a successful career in marketing or sales with self-awareness and a willingness to work in a team while interacting with numerous clients. However, the individual will also likely have to take some time out every once in a while in order to recharge and refocus.

Before confirming a job offer, think back to the office culture and environment you managed to catch a glimpse of during the recruitment process. For example, more and more companies are moving towards an open concept when it comes to office spaces, so you may have to consider working in that setting and prepare yourself for it. How can you contribute?

If you’re in your element, it’s easy to thrive and prosper, so take your comfort zone into consideration too.

For instance, if you prefer interacting with others, you can think about pursuing a career in client relations. On the other hand, if you like working alone, you can consider going into media, design, or the arts.