Swipe right on the perfect job

Finding the right one can be hard, it can take many trials and errors before finding the perfect match for you – the perfect job that is. Most job seekers find a job within 9 weeks but the timeline for finding the right career path isn’t clearly lined out.

The most common advice given to job seekers is to “do something you’re good at” or “do something you enjoy” as good as that advice is, it can be rather ambiguous especially for those who have no clue what they want to do. Instead of asking yourself “what am I good at?” ask yourself “what could I become good at?”

Think about it, most of the lessons and skills we pick up in the workplace, during education, and throughout life are things we learnt to become good at, not things we were already excellent at. Asking yourself “what am I good at” only excludes the possibility of a career you hadn’t thought about before. Unless you’re Mystic Meg, it’s difficult to predict what you’ll be good at, time is the only thing that can do that – but what if you feel like you don’t have time? Luckily for you, you have time, everyone does. So where do you go from here?

Our advice to finding the perfect career for you is to research – learn about new career paths based on what peaks your interests, explore different options, and experience what’s out there. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

1. Make a list!

It’s important to create a pros and cons list of all the jobs you’re interested in. This will not only help you to list and envisage all the potential jobs you could see yourself in, but also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each role.

2. If you have worked before, what did you dislike about your last job and what did you like the most?

If you have previously been employed you are able to get a better understanding of what an average day at work looks like in a particular sector, use this to figure out what you enjoy and despise the most about your previous work experience. You can then apply these factors to the roles you’re interested in to determine whether they align more with what you enjoy or what you dislike.

3. What did you enjoy studying in school/what do you like learning about?

Although school might have been a long time ago for some of us, casting your mind back to the classroom and what subjects you loved can help you to get a better understanding of what field your interests fall under. You may have loved Mr. Berry’s History class but dreaded Mrs. Prout’s Maths lessons – ask yourself why and link your conclusion to different career paths.

4. What do you enjoy conversing about?

Conversations with friends can be joyful, meaningful, and often hilarious but have you ever noticed what topics you bring up the most? Maybe you’re the friend who always brings up politics or perhaps you bring up fashion or science whilst your friends talk about Love Island. Analyse your conversation pattern, it might give you an insight into your passion.

5. Does salary brackets matter to you?

In an ideal world, money wouldn’t matter, but we don’t live in an ideal world. If a certain salary bracket is something you refuse to compromise on, see which of the jobs on your list fit into your desired income bracket. On the other hand, if money isn’t an issue, you’ll be able to explore a wider range of options.

6. Self-reflection

Finding the right career for you is something only you can determine, what makes you happy and all the other variables that go into choosing the perfect career path is something that is only measurable by you. So after conducting your investigation ask yourself ‘what feels right?’

If you’d benefit from a mentoring service or career advice the National Careers Service is a good place to start. If you’d like help improving your CV or Cover Letter sign up for our CV Surgery and Cover Letter Surgery.