Pinpointing Your Ideal Job Prospects

Contributed by Jennifer Goldman

Do you dislike your job, but are confused about what you would rather be doing? Or are you fresh out of school and lost when it comes to choosing a direction for your new career? In either case, although you may not know specifically what kind of job to look for, you probably have a general sense of those desirable attributes a rewarding position might have to offer.

Since you spend forty or more hours a week pouring your energy into your work, it is important that you find a career that you can be enthusiastic about. Otherwise, how will you have the energy or focus to do your best? You need to find a work environment that stimulates you, so you can remain committed and gratified for a long time to come.

The ideal job will offer you a chance to utilize your unique strengths and abilities. It will instill in you a sense of accomplishment and allow you to feel as though you are making some significant contribution, to the company, to its clients, or even to the world as a whole.

The opportunity to express your viewpoint in a place where your ideas are valued as insightful and unique, will make going to work a pleasure rather than a pain in the neck. Choosing a job that enables you to do what you’re best at and enjoy most, will benefit both you and your employer by ensuring your dedication and productivity, and possibly even spurring your momentum up the change of command.

In addition to having a general sense of what you want out of your future career, you probably have a pretty clear picture of what sorts of tasks and situations you hope to avoid. Rather than being discouraged by a previous, unpleasant experience in the workplace, you can use this knowledge to help you define what you want through the process of elimination.

And, there are still other ways to go about developing a more specific idea of what jobs will suit you best. Not knowing what you want to do only leaves you open to infinite possibilities. Now, that’s an exciting prospect! But of course, you will eventually need to identify and narrow down your choices.

You can do so by taking a career assessment test. Many career reference books contain written assessment tests. You can also have one administered to you by a professional career counselor. These tests will help you figure out where your strengths lie and what your job preferences are. Almost without exception, people discover that they especially enjoy doing what they naturally do well. When you get feedback from the test, search for job listings with requirements that are similar to the descriptions of your assets.

If you’re skeptical about whether a particular job will be all it’s cracked up to be, ask someone who holds a similar position if you can follow them around at the office for a day. That way you can get a realistic, insider’s glimpse of what the job really entails. Ask yourself if you can imagine doing those things everyday in a comparable environment. Don’t be afraid to ask the person your shading what they’re doing and why. Understanding the process may or may not make the tasks seem more purposeful and rewarding.

Another way to get some hands-on experience in a field that appeals to you is to do volunteer work. You might not get paid, but you may end up finding your dream job, or sparing yourself the pursuit of an undesirable career. As an added bonus you’ll gain experience in a field that you may later choose to pursue. Volunteer work can be rewarding in and of itself, but it will also look great on your resume. Internships offer similar benefits. Some even pay, but they are usually more difficult to obtain than volunteer positions.

You can also narrow down career choices by asking yourself—and of course answering—the following questions. Put these questions and your answers on paper so you can compare and match them with job postings afterwards:

• What do I enjoy doing most?
• What do people tell me I’m good at?
• In what areas do others rely on me for help?
• Am I outgoing, introverted, or somewhere in between.
• Do I prefer a lot of instruction and support or do I like to work independently?
• Do I enjoy collaborating with a team or would I rather work in isolation?
• Do I thrive in a busy, fast-paced environment, or do I concentrate better in a calm, quiet place?
• Am I good at dealing directly with customers or would I rather only work to please a supervisor?
• Do I take pride in delegated authority or would I rather roll up my sleeves?
• How far am I willing to drive to work each day?
• Do I want to work in a skyscraper or a small, ground-floor office?

When utilizing the tips in this article, it’s important to remember not to be overwhelmed by all of the job possibilities out there. Instead, let the plethora of choices empower you with hope. You may think making one choice must preclude another. In a sense it does. But don’t despair. If you use these steps to narrow down the possibilities, you’ll be more likely to hone in on the one that will lead to the most satisfying career.

About the Author:
Jennifer Goldman is a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader living in Denver, Colorado.

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