A lot of people have a job they need but don’t necessarily like. While many people are ready for a change, Fahim Imam-Sadeque says it’s not uncommon for these same people not to know where to begin.
Change is difficult for many people in general, but especially so in their careers. You may fear change because you don’t have ample education or enough experience.
Everyone has certain life skills, though, that could help propel them to a job they truly love. Here’s how you can weigh what you’re good at and what you want so you can get a job you actually enjoy.
Assess Your Career
If you want to know what job you would love, you have to first figure out what you love doing. This is easy for many people regarding their lives outside of work, but it’s often a difficult question concerning their professional lives.
A great place to start is by taking a few career assessments. There are plenty of free ones available online that will help you generate ideas about potential jobs that could be an excellent match for you.
This process may open your eyes to a career you’ve never considered before.
Figure Out What You Want to Accomplish
People often think about their career and their “other life” as two separate entities. The reality, though, is that they are intermingled. You may want to keep your personal life outside of the office but doing so may be preventing you from finding a job you enjoy.
Ask yourself what, in your personal life, do you value. What would you want to ultimately accomplish in your life? Then, figure out if there’s a career path that could help you achieve that.
If you’re working toward a personal goal while getting paid to do it, then that would be the ideal situation.
Find the Right Company
Simply getting a job on the career track you desire will not necessarily make you happy. You also have to find a match with the right employer.
A job description might sound great on paper, but if you don’t work for a company that aligns with your values and enables your success, then it’s likely you won’t be happy in the end.
But how do you find out if you’d like to work for a particular company before accepting a job? Start by seeing if you know anyone who works at the company — or if anyone you know has a connection to an employee there. Social media sites such as LinkedIn are a great place to start.
You can also check out reviews of different companies that current and former employees leave online. Just be aware that disgruntled former employees may write a bad review to get back at a company they didn’t like.
Ask the Company the Right Questions
One of the best ways to find a job you enjoy is by approaching the interview process as a two-way street. Unfortunately, too many people go into an interview prepared to only answer questions and not ask them.
Try flipping that script. Prepare a list of questions for the person who’s interviewing you to gauge whether the company would even be a good fit for what you’re looking for.
Fahim Imam-Sadeque says companies should have to earn their trust as a prospective employer, just as you should have to earn their trust as a prospective employee.
About Fahim Imam-Sadeque
Fahim Imam-Sadeque is a business development professional with proven experience in the asset management industry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the City University of London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. Fahim’s top skills include asset management, hedge funds, investment management, sales, and consultant & client relationship management.