How to Choose the Perfect Job for you

This season, I’m seeing more and more crew leaving their jobs not because of unfair pay, but because their roles are not in alignment with their values. At The Crew Coach I encourage and commend crew who are able to courageously step out of their comfort zone and even risk unemployment to pursue a job that is a right fit for them.

As such, this blog will give you guidance on how to find a job that is just right for you as, for many of us, the idea of finding that perfect position sounds impossible. However the good news is that as long as you have a fundamental understanding of yourself, your values and your deepest desires, it’s perfectly possible. And once you know this you’ll be able to cultivate career goals that are specific, realistic and achievable.

A lot of my clients who choose to do my yachting exit strategy coaching are ready to make that leap into something new, yet often have no idea of what that would look like. However within six coaching sessions, they’ve all found new career opportunities that are not only satisfying but give them a sense of purpose and meaning in this world. The success of the program is largely due to their willingness and courage to undergo a deep self-analysis to gain a better understanding of themselves whilst bringing awareness to their strengths, talents and passions, as well as key areas that they can improve on.

What don’t you want in a job?

Self-awareness is one of the most important skills when it comes to personal advancement. By identifying what you don't want in a job, you’ll gain more clarity into what you do want. Look back at your career and think about positions that you held that brought about feelings of frustration or job dissatisfaction. What aspects of the role didn’t you enjoy, and how did the role make you feel? If you had a magic wand to undo all the negative aspects of the role, what would you do to improve it?

Next it’s time to go a level deeper and truly unpack what makes you YOU. Are you familiar with what your strengths and weaknesses are? The best way to discover them is to ask friends,family or colleagues whom you respect for their opinions, and by doing this you’ll get an opportunity to see a side of yourself that you may never have realised. Through understanding and accepting all parts of yourself, you’ll be more confident to seek a position that will support your areas for development and enhance your strengths. A useful way of organising this information is using the SWOT framework – you can download your template here.

Values

Your values are critical as they serve as your internal radar or guidance system, and will steer you back on track when you have found yourself in no man’s land. Values can be quite overwhelming when it comes to choosing a select few, yet there are various exercises you can do to identify your values. I recommend starting off with this brief one here.

Once you have identified your values, write down the actions you are prepared to commit to and demonstrate how you choose to live out these values. By being intentional in your behaviour, you are more likely to hold yourself accountable which will lead to better decision making. Once you are confident on which values you would like to prioritise, your job search will become more purposeful.

Be curious

Don’t just accept a job for what it is - as much as the interviewer is interviewing you, you should be interviewing them too to determine whether there is a synergy between your values and theirs. If you value honesty and professional development for example, ask them whether they do performance reviews and how they deliver feedback.

Heads of departments should have a framework that they use to deliver feedback so that it’s congruent and consistent, and it needs to be delivered professionally: putting someone down and focusing on their faults is certainly not promoting a learning culture.

Use your network

Remember that you are your own personal brand and think about how you would like to be perceived by others. If this is by someone who is kind, then be kind yourself, and ask how you can be helpful towards others. Do not use your network just when you need something from them? That demonstrates a selfish, one directional relationship.

Keep on top of your game

Job searching can take it out of you. Expect to get rejected and expect to get disappointed - this is all part of finding the right job. By preparing yourself mentally for the knock backs, you will not become a victim of your circumstances. Here are some tips on how you can achieve this:

1. Come up with a list of affirmations to refer back to in difficult times.

2. Keep a list of your career achievements thus far.

3. Ensure your resumé is updated on a regular basis.

4. Engage with recruiters but also invest in developing a long-term positive relationship with them.

5. Consistently scan social media groups for opportunities and reach out to your network.

6. Seek mentorship or guidance around your areas of weaknesses.

7. Develop your interview skills if need be to boost your confidence.

I hope you take these tips onboard and I look forward to seeing you thrive in your chosen career pathway or new job role!

Images: Pixabay, Pexels