Finding a job can be one of the most exciting, but also daunting and complex stages of your life.
Whether you’re a graduate fresh out of uni or looking to make a career change into that dream role, there are a few different things you can do to help you assess what that looks like for you.
There is a role out there for everyone, it’s just finding something that makes use of your capabilities, and that you find rewarding and challenging – sounds like a dream right?
Step 1) Prior to Applying for Jobs
Evaluate Your Hard & Soft Skills
First things first, take stock of your skills so far, both hard and soft.
Harder skills are easier to quantify and evaluate, and you might already have a pretty clear idea about whether you want to continue to make direct use of them or not, particularly if you’re thinking about changing career paths. Nevertheless, make a mental (or physical) list and just remind yourself of what you can do – probably more than you think!
Evaluating your softer skills might require a bit more thinking, and a bit more digging into what you’ve done, but is equally, if not more important. Run through your strengths, and the softer skills you feel most confident with and that you’d like to make use of in your next role.
Think About What Makes You Tick
Think about what motivates you, and what makes you behave in certain ways. This might require a bit of thinking, and could potentially throw up some confronting questions, but it’s really important in thinking about what job might be right for you.
Honestly drilling into what it is that truly makes you tick, gives you guidance on finding a role that you will find fulfilling, and get the most enjoyment out of in the long term.
Get Clear On What Values Are Most Important to You
Considering what values are most important to you is incredibly important in guiding your search toward a career that is as fulfilling and interesting as possible, and will hopefully leave you with as high a level of job satisfaction as possible.
When looking at and evaluating the suitability of different businesses, always consider the company’s brand and values as part of this. If your values and ethos don’t align with a company, chances are they won’t be able to offer you your dream career.
Think About Working Arrangements
Although this may seem less relevant to the previous few points, working arrangements can have a huge impact on job satisfaction, as well as your wider life.
The pandemic has changed the way we think about work, and while a lot of people were eager to return to the office, others weren’t – it’s all about personal preference.
Figure out and think about what would work for you, where you would be most productive, and what you will look for in your new role.
Consider Your Career & Financial Goals
It’s the million dollar question – where do you want to see yourself in 5, 10, 15 years’ time?
While you don’t necessarily need a specific answer, think about more general goals, and what you would like to have achieved personally and professionally, in more abstract terms.
Financials are also something to consider – it’s all very well and good to pursue things on the basis of other factors, and you absolutely should do so, however financial situations are also a key factor, which I’m sure most of you are aware of.
Step 2) Finding & Applying for Your Dream Job
Upgrade Your CV
Giving your CV a refresh isn’t the most thrilling or enjoyable task I appreciate, but it’s, unfortunately, a bit of a necessary evil. If you’re looking for a new role, and potentially a change of career path, your CV needs an update and may need tweaking to suit what you’re looking for.
Tailoring your CV around the type of role you’re looking for is really important. Make sure it highlights what you most want a potential employer to look for, and think about what parts of your experience qualify you the best for what you’re looking to do next.
Expand Your Professional Network
Expanding your network is a fantastic way to start making a move towards a new career path, even if it’s just asking questions of people and having initial conversations.
Networking doesn’t have to be daunting – it can be as simple as connecting with someone on Linkedin and dropping them a message, or even just reaching out to old colleagues and making use of existing connections.
Seek the Help of a Recruitment Agency
A recruiter will always be able to give you some advice on the job market, and be realistic with you about your skillset and expectations. It’s their job to know jobs, so using them as a sounding board for your career discussions is a great idea to get an expert opinion.
They can even help to look over and refine your CV for you, as well as look at opportunities and proactively make use of their connections to find you an opportunity.
Pluck Up the Courage and Start Applying!
You’re going to have to bite the bullet at some point! It can feel daunting to put yourself out there but if you never do, it’s not that likely that change will happen itself.
Start looking at roles, start reaching out to businesses, and start being proactive in your search. Looking for a job can feel like a full-time job in itself, so it’s an easy one to put off, but again, it’s a bit of a necessary evil.
Don’t be disheartened by rejections, especially if you’re looking at changing your career path, and believe in yourself, your skillset, and what you feel you could bring to a company.
Conclusion
To conclude, navigating how to find your dream job doesn’t have to be an intimidating process – by taking it step-by-step, and managing each stage of the process – it can be a really exciting opportunity to start a new chapter in your life.
