5 Vital Job Search Tips To Get The Job That’s REALLY Right For You

When you are unhappy at work or are faced with losing a job, the knee jerk reaction is to jump right into another similar job or accept whatever employment we can find so that you are able to keep uninterrupted pay.

Instead of jumping into the next best job when faced with a job transition, see it as an opportunity to give yourself time to reflect about what you truly want out of life so you can find a job that supports it. Here are five job search tips to help you find a job that complements the life you truly want.

What motivates you?

Before you head to the online job boards, it’s beneficial to assess what truly motivates you. Typically, your broader reason for working is to earn money or to make a difference in some way. Usually one of these is more important to you than the other. Figure out what that is for you—there is no right or wrong here—and you likely work for both reasons, but to determine your greater purpose one will be a bigger priority to you if you give yourself the time to reflect. Once you determine your main motivation for work, it helps you know where to look for employment—nonprofits, corporations or opportunities that offer both such as companies that have core values and beliefs that align with your own.

Check your passion

Ask yourself if you are still passionate about the career you’re in. During a job transition, it’s the perfect time to ask yourself if your chosen career is still fulfilling before jumping right back into a job in the same field. Although most professionals struggle with burnout from time to time, if your passion for what you do is lacking, it’s time to create a plan to find another career or create new professional goals for yourself.

Determine what you need

Before beginning your job search, it’s important to identify what you need to be happy in your next position. Do you want flexibility? A shorter commute? Perhaps vacation time is more important to you than salary or telecommuting is your ideal. List out the criteria for your ideal position and then determine what on that list is the most important to you or is non-negotiable. While it might not be possible for you to get everything you want, it’s important to get everything you need before committing to another company.

What else can you change to provide what you need out of life?

Since most of us spend more waking time pursuing our careers than anything else in life, what we do every day is critically important to the quality of our life. However, when you reflect on what you truly want out of life, you might discover there are deficits outside of your career you can solve. A job change is already a large life transition, but since you have the opportunity to reflect on what’s really important to you because you are faced with a job change, it can open the doors to changing other areas of your life to give you what you need. Similarly, what you assume might be required in your next job might be solved another way. Give yourself the opportunity to consider what’s possible.

Be open and inquisitive

As you begin to determine your next career move, be open to learning about new industries and be proactive about making new connections. The more open you are to learning about new opportunities in different industries and environments, the higher the chance you will come across a situation that might be your next ideal move. Oftentimes we reduce our searches to what we have known in the past and are familiar with. Being open and inquisitive about how different companies and industries operate can open up new ways for your particular skill-sets to be used. 

Before jumping straight into a new job just to maintain a steady income, take time to determine what you want out of life and what’s most important to you in a new position. Ultimately, this time will pay great dividends to your ultimate success and happiness.

What have you found was beneficial to do before a job search to ensure you get what you truly want out of life and find a job that supports it?

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