For a lot of us, work sucks. But does it have to? According to CNN, a new study found that fewer than half of US workers are satisfied with their jobs. With 10% of the country unemployed (and many more under-employed), you may think that you have to settle for whatever you can find. But do you want to be that person who wakes up in 30 years and realizes you’ve always hated your job? I say NO. Here are some suggestions for how you can find a job you actually LIKE.
1. Figure Out What You Love
High school guidance counselors are known to ask their students what they would do if they didn’t have to work. If the answer is “fix up old cars,” then they’d recommend you become an auto mechanic. It sounds overly simple, but it’s a good rule of thumb. Another way to think about it is that you should do what you love, and find a way to find someone to pay you for it. You may think that an interest in video games is useless, but that might not be true. Someone has to design them! There are a lot of jobs out there that you may not even know exist.
2. Apply Your Skills and Talents to a Growing Industry
Although many companies are stuck in hiring freezes or laying people off, some industries are growing. Health care is a big one, because if you think about it, people are always going to need health care — and it’s not something that will be rendered obsolete by the internet. Traditional television broadcasts may draw in fewer viewers than in previous years, but there are new media companies with job openings, like Hulu. And just think about all the new content that is being made for cell phones — those companies need people too.
3. Network Like Crazy
I realize that actually getting an interview might be the toughest part of job hunting, especially when there are so many applicants. Networking is crucial, but don’t think of it as bothering strangers (I hate that too). Think of it as cultivating relationships and making friends. In most industries, people get jobs because of friends and colleagues. It makes sense, because people want to help their friends. People they trust. People they know will do a good job. Even if your friends and relatives work at companies that don’t interest you, they may know other people or have good advice to share. It never hurts to ask.
4. Think About More than Just Your Salary
Sometimes a poor job market means you’ll have to take a pay cut, but that might not be the worst thing in the world. When considering jobs, there are a lot of things to think about besides your salary: Will you enjoy the actual work? Can you have meaningful relationships with coworkers? What kind of benefits (medical and otherwise) will you get? Will you respect your superior? Do you feel like your voice will be heard if you are unhappy with something? Will you be too busy to have hobbies or spend time with your family? Is the commute long? Is there possibility for advancement? Does the company have a program to send you to grad school? Will you be learning new things? Point being: a low-paying job might make you happier than one that pays more.
5. Be Flexible
Maybe you’ve spent ten years in Human Resources, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try something else. Many skills — organizing, writing, public speaking, computers — are transferable to a variety of careers, and many positions require such specific tasks that people with lots of experience or none have to learn them just the same. Don’t be afraid to apply for something that’s different from what you’re used to; you may be exactly what the company is looking for. Focus on what you CAN do and what positive things you would bring to the position.
Great article for the employed and non employed. I linked to it from my blog.