The average American spends more than 34 hours per week at work, which equates to more than 1,768 hours per year. If you’re going to be spending almost 2,000 hours of every year doing something, you may as well make sure you’re in the right job. For many of us, our career aspirations are hampered or made impossible by factors such as competition, a lack of training or experience, or limited opportunities. If you’re in the wrong job, this guide will hopefully help you to determine what you want to do, and how you can go about making positive changes
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Are you in the wrong job?
If you dread going to work on a Monday morning, you probably think this is completely normal. It’s true to say that many of us feel a little glum on a Sunday evening, but this is mainly due to the fact that weekends fly by so quickly. Before we know it, the alarm is going off, and it’s time to start a new working week when Friday evening seems like it was here 2 seconds ago. Dread is a powerful emotion, and nobody should dread going to work every day. If you have to drag yourself out of bed and use every fiber in your body to muster up the enthusiasm to leave home and make your way to work, it’s highly likely that this is not the job for you.
Even if you enjoy your job, you could still be in the wrong role. What are your ambitions and if somebody asked you what you would do if you could choose any job, what would you say? How do your answers compare to your current situation? Of course, not everyone can leave school or college, and start doing the job of their dreams immediately. But it’s always good to bear your hopes and dreams in mind when you make career choices. If you’re heading in the right direction, this is a positive thing. Don’t settle if you don’t have to, and try and think about the bigger picture.
You may also be in the wrong job if you’re not making the most of your talents. Often, we plump for jobs just because we need money to keep a roof over our heads or there’s an attractive salary or employment package available. But do you enjoy what you do, and are you using your skills in the best way possible? If you’ve got a degree in computer science, do you really want to be entering data or working in recruitment? If you can speak four different languages, do you want to be doing administration jobs for the rest of your days? If you’re a creative person, is sales really the best route for you?
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Taking the plunge
Changing jobs can be incredibly scary. Often, you’ll have friends at work, and the familiarity of the working day and the environment makes you feel confident and comfortable. Giving this up can be daunting enough without factoring in the financial hit as well. If you have a job, and you’re handing n your notice without a plan B, this is a risk if you’ve got bills to pay, but it’s a risk that may pay off. If you can’t afford to take time out to job hunt, start searching while you’ll still working. You can upload your resume online, and look for vacancies that appeal to you. If you are successful, you can go from one position to another without having to worry about losing out on income.
If you like your current job, it can be even more difficult to hand your notice in, but you don’t want to end up having regrets. None of us know what is around the corner, and unfortunately, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if you don’t take a gamble, you may never know what could have been. You may regret not leaving your job if you’re still there years later wondering if you could have been getting more out of life in a different role. At least if you take the plunge, you know that you’ve given it a shot, even if things don’t quite go to plan.
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Finding the right job
Working out what you want to do
Some people have always known that they wanted to be a doctor, a teacher, a business guru or a pilot. For many others, they can reach their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s or even their 50’s, and still not really know what they want to do. If you have a clear goal, you’re very lucky, as this gives you something to aim for. If you know you want to be a nurse, for example, you can research what you need to do to get that job. If you’re unsure, it can be much harder to find the right job or even to work out what step to take next. Think about opportunities that offer you the chance to do things you love and to make the most of your skills and character traits. Do you love painting, drawing, writing or playing music? Do you enjoy spending time with others or are you obsessed with animals? Are you passionate about politics, law or current affairs? Do you enjoy helping those in need or are you fascinated by history, art or science? When you combine your practical skills and your academic qualifications with your interests, this can help you to determine the direction in which you want to head.
In this day and age, there are more opportunities than ever before to try and turn a passion into a career path, so don’t rule out options just because they may not seem like a ‘proper job’ to you. It is possible to make money out of writing or to set up your business if you’re a master baker, you love to design and make clothes, or you’re a budding inventor.
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In many cases, you may not have the right qualifications for the job you desire. It’s very hard to know what you want to do at the age when you choose your high school subjects, or you pick a college course. It can be daunting returning to education, but if you really want a job that requires you to complete a period of study and sit exams, don’t let this put you off. You may have to spend months, even years with your head in a book, but isn’t it worth doing this if it means you’ll enjoy working for decades to come?
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Searching for vacancies
It’s very rare for job opportunities to just fall into your lap. Usually, you have to go out and find them. In the past, this involved looking at adverts in local papers or subscribing to specialist magazines, which features vacancies in your chosen industry.
Today, job seeking is easier thanks to the Internet. If you search online for vacant roles, your search will return thousands of results. Of course, not all these roles will be suitable for you, and this is where refining your criteria comes in handy. You can set the location, use keywords to narrow your search, and choose a salary band. You can use universal websites, which cover a whole host of different industries, as well as specialist websites, which will enable you to find jobs that match your preferences. If you have social care qualifications, for example, you can use health recruitment websites to find plenty of social work opportunities in your local area. If you’re a trainee teacher looking for their first job, an education agency may be your first port of call. As well as using the Internet, it’s also worth networking and keeping an eye out for opportunities that may crop up. If you have contacts, this can be really useful, especially in fields like media and communications and journalism. It’s always beneficial to have experience in these industries, so take every opportunity that comes your way. If you have to do an unpaid internship, don’t think about the fact that you won’t be paid for a month. View it as a chance to make a name for yourself, and get a foot in the door.
It can also be helpful to sign up with recruitment agencies. They will contact you about jobs that match your skill set and your level of experience, and you can join agencies that specialize in your area of expertise.
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Preparing for interviews
If you get to the interview stage, this is your chance to shine, so prepare thoroughly, be confident, and don’t undersell yourself. If you’re anxious, try and stay positive, be calm, and visualize yourself going in there and doing a brilliant job. Take your time to answer any questions, and be yourself. Smile, maintain eye contact and show how passionate you are about the role. Sometimes, even if you aren’t the best candidate on paper, you’ll get the job because of your attitude and the impression you make.
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Have you ever stopped to think about whether you’re in the wrong job? Sometimes, there are clear warning signs, but in other cases, it’s about challenging yourself, taking risks, and giving yourself the best opportunity to find a job you love.
