How to Find the Job you’ll Love
JANE JACKSON
www.janejacksoncoach.com Â
How To Find The Job You’ll Love Contents What do you love doing?
What values drive you?
Are you thinking about a career change or looking for a job? Focus on the important things to do first. A successful job search requires thoughtful analysis, a reality check, accurate information and being a good fit for the role and environment. Here are the first steps you need to take so you can make the right decisions for your future.
Research industries and organisations
Your qualifications
Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on earth to do. With such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling. Vincent Van Gogh
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What do you love doing? Imagine leaping out of bed in the morning and looking forward to everything you will be doing at work today. List everything that excites you and gives you energy. Then, imagine dragging yourself out of bed in the morning because of what you will be doing at work today. List the things that are energy drainers for you. Identify what you enjoy doing and be honest with yourself about how skilled you are in each area.
If you are highly competent at something you love you will be able to market that skill with confidence. If you are lacking competency in something you love are you willing to upgrade your skills through extra study or work experience? You will be happiest in roles that will give you abundant opportunities to perform the activities that inspire you. Of course every role will have some responsibilities that won’t make you leap for joy; however roles that provide 80% or more opportunities to do what you love will excite you enough to help you leap out of bed in the mornings looking forward to the days challenges.
Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all you heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours. Dale Carnegie
What Values Drive You? Many clients I work with are not aware initially of their core values and consequently can’t put their finger on what is missing in their careers and personal lives. What is important to YOU in your personal and professional life? Could it be reward and recognition, financial independence, affiliation, work/life balance, friendships, belonging or acquisition of knowledge, independence, teamwork, technical/functional competence, leadership or dedication to a cause or service?
night conference calls plus the frequent overseas travel.
All values are important however there are some that are more important at different stages in your life. You need a role that aligns with your current values. You need to work in an organization that respects your values for true job satisfaction.
This satisfied her until she and her husband started a family. With this change in her personal life, her values changed. The role was no longer satisfying in the way it used to be. Her top values of recognition and advancement changed to family and work/life balance.
One of my past clients had a very successful career in a global financial services organization. Her compensation package more than made up for the long hours she was required to work and the late
It took some skillful negotiation and realignment of her role to create a win-win situation for both her and her employer at that stage in her life and career. What stage are you at in your life now?
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Research Industries and Organisations Once you have identified your preferred skills, your level of competency and your personal and career values, conduct research to find out which industries and organizations within those industries that may be a good match. Use the Internet, library or professional association for your initial research and then talk to people within your network who may be able to guide you especially if they work in an area that interests you. If you don’t know people who can provide in depth guidance, ask for a recommendation to someone who can or consider a career coach who will be able to assist.
Think about the Can Do, Will Do and Best Fit scenarios. You want to find a role that you ‘Can Do’ well with your level of skills, knowledge and competencies. You want an organisation that fits in with the ‘Will Do’ personal preferences regarding the way you are willing to work – hours per week, length of commute, etc. Plus it’s important to find the ‘Best Fit’ for you regarding your personality, values, team environment and corporate culture.
Your Qualifications Through your research you may find that you need additional qualifications or skills in order to perform successfully in the roles you have identified. Whether it is an MBA, a Certificate IV, a driving license, a diploma in alternative medicines or sports management, etc., have you enough desire and are you willing to take the time and effort to gain those qualifications or skills? If the answer is yes then you can take the next steps to become qualified in chosen field. If the answer is no, then continue your exploration and research through your network or with your coach to discover a role where you can use your existing skills and knowledge within an organization that will value what you have to offer.
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If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability. Henry Ford
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Once you have considered all that is important to you, if you need assistance to identify your next career direction or devise a marketable resume and LinkedIn profile, contact Jane Jackson and take the next step to achieve that dream role!
Website: www.janejacksoncareers.com LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/in/janejackson/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/careercoachsydney Twitter: www.twitter.com/janecareercoach Tel: +61 (2) 8076 4808
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