How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
-Annie Dillard.
Are you stuck in a job that you hate going to? Or are you tired of applying to new jobs but don’t seem to land that one perfect job that you love doing?
According to a recent Gallup study, only 21% of people are engaged at work, and only 33% are satisfied with their overall well-being. 'Most people are merely 'coping' instead of flourishing and don't even feel hopeful about their future.
The above statistics do not paint a particularly rosy picture, and you are probably searching in panic, “how to find a job you love?”.
We spend almost 1/3 of our lives at work, and what's the point if we have to drag ourselves to the office every morning? We must find something that we love, no matter how challenging that may sound.
Finding the right job can be challenging.
You may think you like a profession based on the fancy job title, only to be depressed by the daily schedule. We've all been there, misled by the golden luster.
Only 21% of people are engaged at work, and only 33% are satisfied with their overall well-being.
This article will be your knight in shining armor, assisting you in your quest to find a job you love. Bon Voyage!
Why Should you have a Job that you Love?
A job is more like a relationship, and can you continue a relationship without love? No, right?
If the foundation is not there, how can that relationship thrive?
Here are some reasons that answer the question, "Why should you have a job that you love?"
1. Time once gone, is lost forever
We spend a major chunk of our waking hours at work. We invest a lot of effort into learning the tasks, but what's the point if we don't even like them?
If you are doing something, it should be worth your time. Investing your time in the work you love will get you a better return.
About one-third or 30 percent of human life is spent working.
2. A job you love adds to your motivation
People who love their jobs have higher motivation levels. They are more productive and have more energy to achieve their goals.
If you love your job, you will be more motivated to do your best. You don't have to force yourself. Your passion will keep the ball rolling.
3. Your quality of life is connected to your job
Your mental and physical health matters!
You may have a ton of money, but what's the point if you are unhappy with what you do?
Having a job that you love will improve your quality of life. It will make you more fulfilled and less stressed.
Employees who are happy are 13% more productive in their workplace.
4. Work that you love helps you learn faster
The pace of change in today’s time is so rapid that if you don't keep learning, you will become irrelevant.
But will you be able to learn everything that is presented to you if you don't love what you do?
A job you love gives you the prospect of learning things much more rapidly. You don’t have to force yourself to learn new things; it will be a natural process.
8 Steps to Find a Job You are Passionate About
There is no easy road to finding a job, much less one that you love. But finding the job that brings purpose to your life is worth all the effort.
To simplify your job hunt for your dream job, we have broken down the whole job search process into 8 simple steps:
1. Understanding yourself is necessary
Understanding yourself is the first step toward finding a job you relish.
You will hop around in a circle if you don't understand what you want. You need to figure out where your curiosity lies, what you enjoy doing, and what motivates you the most. These three things will guide you in the right direction.
Few actionable steps you can consider:
- Take a personality test like the Myer Briggs type indicator to learn more about your traits.
- Assess your past experiences: Jobs, Internships, and projects. They can give you crucial insights about your likes and dislikes.
- Assess what you are naturally drawn to without even realizing it.
- Take note of what you do on Sundays: Reading, gardening, Playing pranks on your brother/sister, or making those amazing videos for social media. Some of them qualify for your dream job.
2. Get a second opinion
You go out shopping and stumble upon those awesome pairs of jeans. You are mired in an endless cycle of analysis paralysis because there are too many options.
You make a panic call to your best friend. Voila, Problem solved!
We all have been there.
Your close allies can fast-track the self-discovery process. They know you inside out and can give you insights you didn't know existed.
You can even get a better picture of yourself by counseling with your colleague, advisors, and mentors.
Few questions you can ask them:
- What are my strengths and weakness?
- Which activities make me happy?
- Which career paths will complement both my strengths and passion?
- What areas can I improve for a prosperous career?
Make sure to ask at least 5-10 of your close allies. You can draw out a common pattern out of it.
3. Talk to a career counselor
Perhaps you are not sure what your passion is or how to turn your creative pursuits into a career. The best course of action might be to seek the guidance of a career counselor.
A career counselor or a career coach has expertise in the field of career guidance.
They can offer the best wisdom in the industry and help you align your skills to a job you would love. You will save plenty of time with the counselor's expertise and unbiased advice.
These career doctors might have just the right prescription for you.
4. Know your dream job's list
If you have reached this step, you probably know what interests you and where you stand tall. Congrats!
You need to know certain things about the jobs you have listed:
- Do your current skills match the requirements of the jobs?
- What additional skills do you need to get the job?
- Do the job descriptions match your passions?
For that, you can consider the following actions:
Go to any job boards and search for your listed roles. Let's try it with the help of Linkedin.
- Go to Linkedin, click on "jobs" tab in the navigation bar at the top, and type in any position you have listed. For example, Human resource manager, product manager, content writer, etc.
- You will get a list of jobs under that search term. Go through the job description and understand the skills required for the job and your level of expertise.
- Visualize how you will feel working in that role. Does that shoe fit you well? If the answer is yes, highlight it to dig deeper.
Do this with multiple job options from the list. Mark off those that didn't fit in well.
If your skillset is not aligned with the job description, don't give up. If you are sure about that role, you can always learn it by taking courses or certifications.
5. Connect with the employees of your target companies
You have a fair understanding of the job and the company you want to work for. Now it is time to connect with the employees.
You may ask, why?
You will spend a lot of time with them if you land that dream job. Knowing them will help you understand who they are as people and whether or not you would like to work with such folks.
Furthermore, working in that role, they have a better understanding of the challenges. It's worth the effort to find them out and gain their insights.
LinkedIn is a great place to make connections. Make sure to connect with multiple people. It will increase your chances of getting responses.
6. Making the Informational Interviews
We all know how the interview process is in general, but what is an informational interview?
An informational interview is a meeting or conversation with a working professional in a career or company that interests you. The goal is to get a sense of the role you want to pursue.
Now, you can understand why making the connection was important.
Ask them about their experience in the company and what are their roles and responsibilities. It will fill up the gap in your research.
Simply Googling won't give you this first-hand information!
7. Know the company culture
You can love your job only if you have a good environment to work in. There will always be more to your job than your daily tasks, and you cannot just work alone.
Your research and informational interviews will unfold:
- What is the work culture?
- Are they flexible?
- How do they handle work/life balance?
- How much collaboration is required?
All this will give you a fair idea of the company's culture.
8. Apply for the job
With all that research, aren't you more confident about finding the job you love?
The culmination of all the steps above is applying for the job you have decided for yourself.
You know which field interests you the most; you understand the job role; you are confident about your company choice.
You need to be patient about getting hired. Not every arrow will hit the bull's eye!
You have come a long way, and with a positive attitude, you will get the job you love.
Questions to Ask Yourself in Your Search for a Job You Love
What interests you?
The first thing you must determine is what it is that piques your curiosity. You are destined to stumble upon the wrong career path without clarity of your interests.
Your passions, no matter how big or small will guide you in finding a job that will add meaning to your life.
What is your skill set?
Know your strengths, both in terms of hard and soft skills. It will help you understand what aligns with your career choice and what don't.
Knowing the skill gap will help you better prepare for the learning curve.
In what kind of work environment do you feel comfortable?
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to work environment. Some draw confidence working with their peers, while others might prefer being the lone wolf.
Every job brings a different work setting to the table. So, you need to understand where you fit in.
What values do you cherish?
Being a human being, you are meant to be driven by values. What is it that brings purpose to your life? Your paychecks, people, the work? When you know your ethical commitment, you can make a clear choice when the time comes.
Conclusion
Finding the job you love is not a bed of roses, but it is definitely a road worth taking.
Sitting at your desk, cooking it up in your dreams, won't cut the chase. You have to go out and get things done proactively.
You must understand yourself, your priorities, and what matters to you. You must understand the market, make connections, seek advice, and digest rejections.
Every good thing takes time. So, be patient, be persistent, and keep it moving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it possible to find a job you love?
Yes, it is possible! However, it requires some patience. List out what interests you, make a note of your skills, and try to figure out the career paths that align. Additionally, networking and researching potential employers can lead you to jobs you enjoy and find fulfilling.
2. Why can't I find a job I love?
Finding a job you love is a lengthy process. Before applying, you need to know yourself, your skills, and your preferences. Furthermore, the intense competition might make it even harder to get your desired job. Be patient and persistent; that's the only way out!
3. How do you know if a career is not for you?
If you feel unfulfilled, unmotivated, or unhappy with your work, it may be a sign that this career is not for you. Additionally, suppose the work environment is not conducive to your needs. In that case, it may be time to look into a different career.
This article has been written by Sanjoy Khan Choudhury. He works as a Content Marketing Specialist at Vantage Lens. His areas of interest include music, marketing, cuisine, and anime. When he’s not writing, he’s usually singing to the tune of his guitar or finding some weird way to cook his meal.