I am amazed at the number of people that are trying to find fulfilling work. There is a distinction here, finding fulfilling work, not a job. My career coaching clients are successful, they are confident and all have their basic needs met but are looking for something different. The first thing we look at when we are stressed, tired, unhappy, is our jobs. We spend so much of our time at work.
With the changing demographics in the workplace we see lots of changes in employees and their needs at work. The millenniums want to see value in what they are doing and that the workplace represents the values they have.
Based on a LinkedIn Survey in August of 2015, the number 1 reason people are changing jobs is for career opportunity. Not money, not bosses – career opportunity.
How do you know what to look for in your next job search? There are lots of aspects to finding your ideal job. The first place I start with my clients is in discovery or rediscovering their values. Knowing what is important to us at work, whether its collaborating as a team, being an individual contributor, leadership philosophy, flexible hours, a nice work environment, will help you integrate what matters to you most into your job search. This can help you be more intentional in finding the ideal position.
Here are 3 questions I use frequently with my clients that you can ask yourself to help determine your values:
- Think of a specific time when you were feeling your best at work. Everything was aligned. Take a notebook or jump on your computer and capture all your memories about it.Was there teamwork & collaboration that led to meeting a successful goal? Were you working independently on a project that interested you? What was it about the project that engaged you? When you look at the people, place or subject, what was present that contributed to your best work? Identifying those will help you make a list of “must-haves” in your next job.
- What is the most rewarding part of your current job? What activity do you find yourself wanting to spend more time on? What is present? Who are the people, where are you, what do you have that makes this your favored activity? Jot those down and prioritize them.
- What do others say about you when describing you at your best? Look at your performance reviews or any of the assessments your company uses to appreciate your contributions. What are the attributes that played into your successes? How often are those attributes present in your job? What do you want more of? Again, list these on your values document.
Finally, take the list and combine all your words or descriptions of what is present when you are at your best at work. Prioritize them. Use the top 10 or so to develop your ideal job description. Is it time to look for another company or a different career? Maybe you just need to live into these values at your current position.
What’s your next step on your career path?
