Are you sick and tired of your current job? Are you on a career path that is leading you to Nowheresville? Do you yearn for something more exciting, more fulfilling, and more suited to who you are as a person? In short, are you looking for the perfect job for you?
If so, the following questions might help you with your job search.
What were your aspirations when you were younger?
Think back to your childhood. What was your idea of a dream job then? Sure, some of them may be slightly unrealistic now – Prime Minister, astronaut, secret agent (though never say never)—but if you had ideas that may be within the realms of possibility for where you are in life now, then you might want to return to those dreams to take the necessary steps to make them come true for you.
What are your hobbies?
If you ever wanted to extend your hobby into a career, then there may be opportunities for you. If you’re somebody who loves baking, as an example, you might want to get into the catering business, be that working for yourself or for an employer. If you’re somebody who enjoys keeping fit, you might want to become a personal trainer at a gym or even a sports coach. If you enjoy writing, you might want to take up journalism, become a blogger, or work as a freelance writer. There are plenty of job ideas here, using popular hobbies as a basis, so have a look, and see what might work for you.
Is the perfect job in this country?
Are you always bemoaning the weather? Do you hate coming home from your summer vacation abroad? Have you always wanted to live anywhere but your own country? Then a job abroad might be the perfect thing for you. You need to consider what you are leaving behind, of course. This isn’t an easy decision, as you might be leaving your family, friends, and even your partner behind in pursuit of a dream job. But you can stay in touch with your nearest and dearest through Skype, and you could always make the effort to fly home to visit them Your partner can contact FISA Immigration for a Visa if he/she wants to visit you, or move abroad with you permanently. And there are couples jobs you might consider if you are romantically attached. Whatever the case, if you dream of taking those roads less travelled into a job abroad, then consider your options to live your dream.
What is your purpose in life?
What is your perfect life? It’s possible to create the life you want with a career you might also love. If you want to spend more time at home, then you might consider a home business. Using your natural talents and skills, you can sell anything you might create, or offer online services to people who can benefit from your knowledge. If you value personal rewards over financial rewards, you might consider working for a charity or getting the training to work within caring professions, such as teaching, nursing, or social work. And if your purpose is to make money, no matter the sacrifices to your personal life, you might consider going for those higher-paid positions, although you will have to commit to training and extra qualifications to get many of them. Think about your life’s purpose; those things that drive you forward, and consider the careers that match.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Do you prefer to work alone, without the pesky distraction of other people getting in the way? Or are you a social butterfly; somebody who thrives on the companionship of others in your everyday life? Think about your personality type, as this might shape the career path you decide to take. To help you narrow down your options, take a careers personality test, and you just might find the perfect job for you. And who knows, there may be jobs out there that you hadn’t previously considered!
What are your skills and talents?
We briefly touched on this earlier, but when it comes to finding the perfect job for you, it is important to find something that matches what you are good at. You might only be the proverbial square peg in a round hole, otherwise. Take time out to list your many skills – there are plenty of ideas here if you are running short on inspiration – and then try and match them to suitable jobs. There are further ideas for doing this in the linked article. Then consider doing what is necessary to add to your job skills if certain jobs require it, or narrow down your options by considering those jobs that seem to be perfectly suited to you and your key abilities.
What did you like or dislike about your previous jobs?
Let the past shape your future. Look at your current job, or all of the jobs that you had previously, and consider what you liked or disliked about them. If there were things you absolutely loved, then it’s good practice to try and find a job role that will give you more of the same positive experiences. If there was anything you hated with a passion, then quite clearly, you need to avoid returning to anything that might cause the same negative reaction within you. Of course, it’s very difficult to get the perfect job, with everything you like, and none of what you don’t like, but it’s still worth going through the thinking process, as some jobs will balance out the other.
Are there any jobs that you would do for free?
In practice, of course, this would be entirely unrealistic. You do need to earn money to survive unless you have a very wealthy partner or family who are willing to fund your voluntary work. However, taking it as a concept, list those jobs that you might be willing to do for free if your lifestyle accommodated it. These will be the dream jobs that you would absolutely love to do, as the rewards received would be greater than any money. It might be acting in a movie, working for a top fashion designer, or as we suggested earlier, a job abroad with plenty of sea and sunshine. These are the jobs that would drive your passions, and get you out of bed in the morning, so think big, list your ideas, and then take steps to fulfil those roles that might be within the realms of possibility for you.
Are you envious of the jobs other people have?
Have you ever been envious of a friend, family member, or even a complete stranger, and said to yourself, “I wish I could do what they do.” If so, then are there any reasons why you shouldn’t? If you don’t have the correct training behind you, then let this be the incentive for you to go back to school to earn some extra qualifications. If you don’t have the confidence to do what they do, then perhaps you need to think better about yourself. If you are in the position to acquire the skills needed, then why shouldn’t you follow the example of others and set foot into a job that can become a reality for you, and not just an idle daydream? Sure, there will be some jobs that are unsuitable for you, for any number of reasons, and it might be a waste of time to pursue them. But on the other hand, there will be those jobs where you might stand a chance, so curb your envy, and grab a piece of the proverbial job pie that other people are currently munching on!
What are the pros and cons of the jobs you have considered?
Let’s narrow down your choices. After answering the other questions, and having listed the jobs that may well be a possibility for you, create a list of the pros and cons of each one. As we suggested earlier, no job is perfect, but there may specific issues within each job that would rule it out for you. For example, if you want a job with a better work-life balance, but a dream job on your list scuppers any chances of you spending more time at home, then you might want to cross it off your list. Or if money is your raison d’etre, but one of your dream jobs doesn’t pay the salary you are wanting, then you might want to eliminate it from your mind, unless you are prepared to take a financial sacrifice. Look at each job in turn, research them to find out more information, then dwindle them down until you are left with those that could well be the perfect job for you.
So, are you wanting to get out of your career rut? Consider our questions so you can finally have the means to find the job that is perfect for you. We wish you every success in your search.
