How to Choose a Suitable Job Position
Assess your lifestyle needs., Evaluate your passions., Take a personality test., Discover your motivation type., Examine your long-term goals., Write down your work experience., Examine your education., Get help from professionals., Seek...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Assess your lifestyle needs.
Consider how important the work-life balance is to you.
Ask yourself if you could accept regular overtime at the expense of time with your loved ones.
Think about how much control you would like over decisions about your work-life balance.
Consider what you need to live comfortably.
Reflect on whether you must be affluent or if you just need the basics., Finding a job you enjoy can do wonders for your productivity.
Think about the duties you enjoyed in past paid or volunteer jobs.
Ask yourself if you prefer working with people or things.
Consider whether you prefer thinking or creating.
Think about the industries that appeal to you., Look into options such as the RIASEC/Holland Interest Scale or the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
You can find many free versions on the web.
The RIASEC scale will determine whether you're realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, or conventional.
The MBTI will help you figure out whether you're introverted (shy) or extroverted (outgoing)., The two most common motivation types are promotion-focused and prevention-focused.
You're promotion-focused if you're creative, impulsive, and enjoy trying new things.
Consider fast-paced and evolving fields like social media and the tech sector.
You're prevention focused if you prefer planning ahead of time and always paying attention to detail.
Consider a job with set hours in fields like law or data analysis., Make a list or write a journal entry detailing where you'd like to be in 10 years.
This will help you to decide between two or more job offers.
For example, you could receive one job offer with a high salary that doesn't quite mesh with your 10-year plan.
Another offer could pay a lower salary but be right up your alley goal-wise.
If you're really thinking long-term, you should take the second offer., If you've already created a custom résumé, you've listed your most relevant experience tailored to a job opening.
Try composing a master résumé that lists every job you've had.
Chances are, you'll be able to spot connections you didn't think of before.
You might even discover qualifications you never though you had., Don't just stop at your degree or professional certificate.
Think about the transferrable skills you perfected as a student.
Perhaps you excelled at argumentative writing or discovered a hidden talent in a studio art class.
Maybe you participated in extra curricular activities that honed your leadership skills.
Take your entire academic experience into account., These days, there are many consultants and coaches who can help you analyze your qualifications.Look for professionals who specialize in the field you're interested in.
Search online for free webinars tailored to people with your background.
Many colleges and universities offer free job search assistance to their alumni.
If you live near your alma mater, make an appointment at the campus career center. , Even if you already have a job, you can use your spare time to increase your know-how.
Ask your employer if there are any on-the-job training opportunities you can take advantage of.
Volunteer for a local charity or business a few hours a week.
Take night or weekend classes at your local community college., Most job search sites allow you to choose one or more locations to limit your search by.
Figure out the maximum round-trip distance you're willing to travel each day.
Consider whether you're willing to relocate, especially if your dream job is in another state/province or country.
Pay attention to travel requirements if you're a single parent or caretaker.
Consider who will care of your child, parent, or chronically ill companion animal if you have to travel frequently., Regardless of your age, you should take health insurance and the retirement package into consideration.
Benefits that depend on your personality- and motivation types include extended vacation time, flexible work days, and telecommuting.
If you're promotion-focused, you might enjoy flexible hours.
On the other hand, if you're social, you might prefer to avoid telecommuting., Read your 10-year plan against the company description.
Research whether the company has a mentoring program or offers professional development workshops.
Opportunities like these will allow you to improve your skills on the job and better prepare you for future in-house openings that might meet your future goals., Your responsibilities on the job should mesh with your skills and/or education, at least to some degree.
For example, if you're fresh out of law school, you probably won't make partner just yet.
However, you don't want to be a paper pusher, either.
On the other hand, if you've been in the field for a while, you should expect your responsibilities to be higher up the professional ladder., Figure out if it's compatible with your personality- and motivation types.
For example, you might be a prevention-focused introvert.
Ask yourself if a boisterous, fast-paced environment of a dot.com startup is worth the potential clash with who you are., Research the company.
Look into its financial stability and reputation, since these usually indicate how long it will be around.
Consider your motivation type in your assessment.
For example, if you're prevention-focused, you should apply for a job that's going to be there for the long term.
On the other hand, if you're promotion-focused, you might anticipate looking for a new job after a couple years. -
Step 2: Evaluate your passions.
-
Step 3: Take a personality test.
-
Step 4: Discover your motivation type.
-
Step 5: Examine your long-term goals.
-
Step 6: Write down your work experience.
-
Step 7: Examine your education.
-
Step 8: Get help from professionals.
-
Step 9: Seek opportunities to gain more skills.
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Step 10: Filter your searches by location.
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Step 11: Weigh the importance of benefits.
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Step 12: Look for opportunities for advancement.
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Step 13: Pay attention to the responsibilities.
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Step 14: Examine the work environment.
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Step 15: Assess job security.
Detailed Guide
Consider how important the work-life balance is to you.
Ask yourself if you could accept regular overtime at the expense of time with your loved ones.
Think about how much control you would like over decisions about your work-life balance.
Consider what you need to live comfortably.
Reflect on whether you must be affluent or if you just need the basics., Finding a job you enjoy can do wonders for your productivity.
Think about the duties you enjoyed in past paid or volunteer jobs.
Ask yourself if you prefer working with people or things.
Consider whether you prefer thinking or creating.
Think about the industries that appeal to you., Look into options such as the RIASEC/Holland Interest Scale or the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
You can find many free versions on the web.
The RIASEC scale will determine whether you're realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, or conventional.
The MBTI will help you figure out whether you're introverted (shy) or extroverted (outgoing)., The two most common motivation types are promotion-focused and prevention-focused.
You're promotion-focused if you're creative, impulsive, and enjoy trying new things.
Consider fast-paced and evolving fields like social media and the tech sector.
You're prevention focused if you prefer planning ahead of time and always paying attention to detail.
Consider a job with set hours in fields like law or data analysis., Make a list or write a journal entry detailing where you'd like to be in 10 years.
This will help you to decide between two or more job offers.
For example, you could receive one job offer with a high salary that doesn't quite mesh with your 10-year plan.
Another offer could pay a lower salary but be right up your alley goal-wise.
If you're really thinking long-term, you should take the second offer., If you've already created a custom résumé, you've listed your most relevant experience tailored to a job opening.
Try composing a master résumé that lists every job you've had.
Chances are, you'll be able to spot connections you didn't think of before.
You might even discover qualifications you never though you had., Don't just stop at your degree or professional certificate.
Think about the transferrable skills you perfected as a student.
Perhaps you excelled at argumentative writing or discovered a hidden talent in a studio art class.
Maybe you participated in extra curricular activities that honed your leadership skills.
Take your entire academic experience into account., These days, there are many consultants and coaches who can help you analyze your qualifications.Look for professionals who specialize in the field you're interested in.
Search online for free webinars tailored to people with your background.
Many colleges and universities offer free job search assistance to their alumni.
If you live near your alma mater, make an appointment at the campus career center. , Even if you already have a job, you can use your spare time to increase your know-how.
Ask your employer if there are any on-the-job training opportunities you can take advantage of.
Volunteer for a local charity or business a few hours a week.
Take night or weekend classes at your local community college., Most job search sites allow you to choose one or more locations to limit your search by.
Figure out the maximum round-trip distance you're willing to travel each day.
Consider whether you're willing to relocate, especially if your dream job is in another state/province or country.
Pay attention to travel requirements if you're a single parent or caretaker.
Consider who will care of your child, parent, or chronically ill companion animal if you have to travel frequently., Regardless of your age, you should take health insurance and the retirement package into consideration.
Benefits that depend on your personality- and motivation types include extended vacation time, flexible work days, and telecommuting.
If you're promotion-focused, you might enjoy flexible hours.
On the other hand, if you're social, you might prefer to avoid telecommuting., Read your 10-year plan against the company description.
Research whether the company has a mentoring program or offers professional development workshops.
Opportunities like these will allow you to improve your skills on the job and better prepare you for future in-house openings that might meet your future goals., Your responsibilities on the job should mesh with your skills and/or education, at least to some degree.
For example, if you're fresh out of law school, you probably won't make partner just yet.
However, you don't want to be a paper pusher, either.
On the other hand, if you've been in the field for a while, you should expect your responsibilities to be higher up the professional ladder., Figure out if it's compatible with your personality- and motivation types.
For example, you might be a prevention-focused introvert.
Ask yourself if a boisterous, fast-paced environment of a dot.com startup is worth the potential clash with who you are., Research the company.
Look into its financial stability and reputation, since these usually indicate how long it will be around.
Consider your motivation type in your assessment.
For example, if you're prevention-focused, you should apply for a job that's going to be there for the long term.
On the other hand, if you're promotion-focused, you might anticipate looking for a new job after a couple years.
About the Author
Ashley Evans
Creates helpful guides on lifestyle to inspire and educate readers.
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