5 questions to ask yourself when looking for a job

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

All professions are important, all professions are needed. However, most people dream not only of a warm place with a high salary, but also of a job that is exciting and related to their interests. Allison Jones, editor of IdealistCareers.org, spoke about what you need to know before giving up all other opportunities in pursuit of your dream job.

Just a couple of years ago, young people who were looking for work were encouraged by the call "Find your dream and follow it." It seems that lately this advice has faded into the background. This does not mean that everyone should be engaged in an unloved business, but choosing a profession, following only your passion and not taking into account other important aspects, is not the most reasonable decision.

However, many people cherish the dream of a job that is related to their area of interest. And many succeed. According to one in three American workers, they are passionate about their work. Therefore, it is not surprising that we all strive for more.

Wanting is one thing, but in order to really get a better job, you need to ask yourself better questions than just "What do I want to do?" You should think about your motivation, needs, skills, what you are going to do or have already done. Therefore, we offer you five alternatives to the question "What do I want to do?"

1. Why do I need to do what I like?

I meet an astounding number of people who seek to find their true passion because their acquaintances want it or this advice was given to them by a job placement specialist. This idea is ubiquitous, and there is a false impression that if a person does not do what he truly loves, then he is a failure.

It is important to realize that motivation is at the heart of all your actions, and it is different for everyone. Focus on your real motives.

Just ask yourself “Why?” Five times until you are in the middle of a serious problem. You may discover that, for example, you don't want to follow your dream on your own, but are simply comparing yourself to your peers. Or you don't like your current job because of your boss, and not because you generally chose the wrong career path.

2. What role does work play in the life I want?

The “follow your dream” message implies that the work itself has tremendous value and is not a means to an end. In other words, live to work, not work to live. There are still many states between love of work and hate for it. Work can be a reflection of your personality, it can be hard labor, but there are other options.

And you yourself can decide what the job should be for you. This will help you find a balance between professional fulfillment and personal life. So the first thing you need to do is decide how you want to live your life and what role work plays. Then you can reconcile your expectations and needs. You don’t automatically become a loser or lose anything if you don’t enjoy being able to pay your bills.

3. What inspires me and how?

When we talk about finding our dreams, first of all we think about what we do with pleasure, from which our eyes start to burn. Although it would be more correct to spread the network wider and be open to everything new. In addition, often we do not even have a holistic idea of what skills need to be possessed in order to get a dream job.

Even if you have decided what you want to do, you may not know which way to go, how to combine your interests and work. For example, you like to write. Think more specifically about what to write about, for whom?

NYU has an excellent methodology. It's a good idea to bookmark the jobs you like and after you've hit at least 50, go through them and see what they have in common. What did you notice? Why? Do these options suit your interests or is this something new? What are the employers' requirements? Where are the companies located? These questions will help you think through your next course of action.

4. What do I want to achieve?

Cal Newport in his book Stop Dreaming, Get Started! compelling evidence that success and satisfaction are more related to the quality of your work and the development of your skills. Focusing on self-improvement means doing things (things, not ideas or assumptions) that inspire you.

Craftsmanship makes us happy at work. In addition, the ability to do our job at a level helps us in solving current problems from day to day. Even more important is whether your work makes any meaningful contribution to the common cause.

It takes time and experimentation to decide what skills and qualities we want to develop, but this is the most powerful way to get closer to what we really want from work.

5. What am I willing to give up?

The classic compromise is to focus on pay and time off. But there are other factors that are often overlooked. What about a more convenient route? A suitable location? Great opportunities to prove yourself? Think ahead of time about what will make the job perfect and what will make it unbearable. There are details that cannot be discussed, there are good ones, but they are not necessary. Just be honest with yourself.