Finding the right job for you is not an easy process. I tend to consider that looking for a job is a job in itself, requiring structure, research, organization, planning and follow up.
What does looking for a job imply?
- First thing first: you have to decide what you want to do. You have education in a certain area, you might have some experience in another area, but defining what you want to do is the most important thing you have to accomplish before you set out for building a new future for yourself. A rash decision might land you with a job you might dislike in less than six months.
- After you decided about the area of work or the industry you want to be in, make some research to find out who are the key players and start investigating their culture, their business model, meet people that work in that industry or are if you have the possibility, attend conferences or events organized by them to know them better.
- Do you want to work with the best – which implies more rigor, stricter rules and procedures, a very well defined culture in which you must integrate or you value more your self expression and individuality? Define very well if you want the stability of a corporation, the excitement of a startup or you want to go on the path of freelancing.
- If you decided what you want to do and which industry you want to work for, verify your education and experience versus the desired job. Do they match? What level do you think you can obtain in your chosen organization? What should you do to obtain the position you desire? Maybe you need to take up some new classes, maybe you should volunteer to gain some experience, or maybe you consider an internship. Whatever it is, you have to make sure that your job application makes sense. Enthusiasm and passion are not enough for getting the job you like; you have to show that you can actually do the work.
- Organize yourself as you would if you were looking for a job: wake up at a fix hour, set tasks and objectives for yourself. Accomplishing objectives will alolow you to measure your success rate in finding a job and help you organize your next steps.
- Follow-up on your applications and network as much as possible (I mentioned above attending conferences or other events organized by the companies that are in your objectives, this is one of the surest way to get at least an interview with a company).
Don’t get disappointed when things don’t move as fast as you want. Finding the right job is never an easy task. As long as you put effort in it and you take it seriously, things will happen. Like any other job, the more you perform in your job of finding a job, the better the results. In the end, it’s all just a learning process: every application, every interview will just make you better at it.
*photo credit: Nina Matthews Photography