Picking The Right Job For You

There’s a reason they call working every day a grind. Working at a job you don’t love can be wearing to your mental, emotional, and physical health. Whether you’re looking for a career change, want the work-life balance offered by a work-from-home job , or you’re just searching for your very first gig, there are plenty of things to consider. From your personal interests to your qualifications to the job market itself, we’ll cover the following so you can find more joy and fulfillment in work.

Woman looks at laptop that sits on an office desk with a high-rise view of the cityscape in the window behind her

Think about your passions.
Research fields that interest you.
Build your skills.
Take a career assessment quiz.
Research the job market.
Consider things you don’t want to do.
Take a good look at your experience.
Build a resume.

Think about your passions.
You don’t have to settle for a job you don’t care about simply because it pays the bills. Think about your passions and things you enjoy doing when considering a career. Do you have a hobby that you can turn into a career? Make a list of the things you enjoy doing in your free time to start looking for your next job. It can be anything from a love for blogging, working on cars, or your favorite YouTube videos. It takes a lot of moving parts to run a business, so that love of watching DIY home improvement YouTube videos can translate into a job working somewhere at a construction company.

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Research fields that interest you.
Was there a job you wanted as a child but didn’t know how to get into the field as you got older? Do some research and find out what it takes to get there. Sometimes, you can take an entry-level job to get your foot in the door and then work your way up to the job you want. It’s easier to compromise salary and status early in your career in a field you love than with something you have passion for. Consider industries that fascinate you and bring out your passions when looking for your next job.

“Just as important as deciding what want to do is deciding what you don’t want to do. What kind of companies don’t you want to work for? What kinds of work don’t you want to do?”

Build your skills.
There are some jobs that require a specific set of skills, whether it’s the knowledge of specific software programs or soft-skills like working well with others, to even get your foot in the door. Do some research and find out what you need to know to get started. Once you know, find out where you can take courses, get a certification, or even what kind of higher learning you need to complete. Do your best to build your skills so you’re ready to hit the ground running on day one.

Take a career assessment quiz.
If you don’t know how to find the right job for you, take a career assessment quiz. You don’t have to take the results verbatim, but it can help to point you in the right direction based on your aptitudes. For instance, you might take the assessment and get a result that says you should pursue a job in the medical field. However, you have an aversion to blood and love to write. In this case, rather than being a medical provider, you instead combine the two and become a medical writer. Find ways to adjust your results to fit your true passions.

Research the job market.
Part of understanding how to find a job is knowing the job market. What does the market look like for a job you want? Does the industry pay well in your area? Are there regions where similar jobs pay more? Will you have to move? No, you shouldn’t worry too much about pay (especially at the start), but you still need to live. Does the industry pay enough that you can still pay your bills? You can also look at projections to find out what the industry will look like in the future. Do some research into the market to learn more about how it operates, what kind of money you can make, and get forecasts for the future of the job.

Consider things you don’t want to do.
Every job is going to have aspects you don’t enjoy. Just as important as deciding what want to do is deciding what you don’t want to do. What kind of companies don’t you want to work for? What kinds of work don’t you want to do? Yes, there will probably be some level of compromise required when you find a job, but a list of dealbreakers will help you decide which jobs you don’t to accept.

Four people sitting at two green outdoor benches work on their open laptops

Take a good look at your experience.
While looking for a new job, think about things you’ve done in the past that you enjoyed and were good at. Find ways you can take that experience and apply it to a job that you’ll enjoy. You can take experience from one industry and carry it into another. For example, if you’ve spent several years working on cars and want to get into video production, you can work for a car dealership, auto manufacturer, or shift your focus at an auto mechanic’s shop. Find ways to apply your knowledge and experience at your new job.

Build a resume.
Understanding how to build a quality resume is an important piece of knowing how to find a new job. Your resume is the first point of contact you’ll have with a company. Make sure it’s ready to go and puts your best foot forward. There’s not a singular way to write a resume and some industries want to see different things. Do some research into what other people in your field are doing, but make sure to include a personal touch. You want your resume to stand out from the others without being an eyesore or leaving a negative impression. Above all else: Keep it concise and informative.

Searching for a job can be a long and exhausting process. Unless employers are knocking on your door (or filling your inbox), you’ll likely have to spend a lot of time finding your next job. Take our tips for how to find a new job and you’ll have an offer on the table in no time.