As business professionals place an ever-growing emphasis on quality of life, finding the ideal job is no longer just about salary. Workers are searching for a position that fits their personality and lifestyle. Read on to discover whether your current job is a good lifestyle fit and, if not, how to find one that is.
Understanding Your Personality and Work Style
The first step to finding a job that fits your lifestyle is getting to know yourself. Take some time to think about how you work best. Do you perform better as a team player, or do you prefer to work alone? Do you prefer having creative freedom on the job, or do you want a more structured work environment? Do you like to travel for work or stay close to home? On paper, describe what your ideal job day looks like based on what you know about yourself, and then jot down the types of jobs that fit your needs.
Knowing What You Want
Now, make a list of what matters most to you in your career, ranking your top priorities and listing non-negotiable factors. Ask yourself whether your current job is meeting these important needs. If it isn't, think of an ideal job that would. For instance, if you want to help people in your career, you might consider a job as a physical therapist or a public service job such as a teacher. If you want to spend more time with family, you might work from home as a consultant. If you want to increase your income to decrease financial stress, look for a job in an industry that pays well, such as the finance or healthcare industry.
Knowing What You Don't Want
Knowing what you don't want in your career is just as important. Think about experiences from your current and previous jobs as well as from everyday life that make you unhappy. For instance, you may not want to deal with hostile customers, or you might despise jobs in which you sit in front of computer screen for the majority of the day. If your current job doesn't fit the bill, find the ideal job that fits your lifestyle by eliminating all options that include undesirable factors.
Finding the Perfect Fit
If you decide to move on, make list of the companies that meet your needs and have job openings. Call the hiring manager, and request an informational interview. If the hiring manager grants your request, create a list of questions based on the job factors that are important to you to determine if the open position is your ideal job.
Finding a job that fits your lifestyle may seem like a dream, but if you're willing to put in the work toward making a career shift, landing your ideal job can easily become a reality.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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