Discovering the perfect job of our dreams is a long and complex process that, unfortunately, we are not all able to achieve. Many times we can not find a job that we like or that fits our skills, so we end up discouraging. However, there are several ways to approach the perfect job for us.
Whether you are looking to change jobs, start a new career or get your first job after graduating , at Hays we offer you a series of tips to be clear about your goals, both work and personal.
Set a goal for a perfect job
A lot of people just need a job related to their area of study and work experience, but the reality is that to feel really happy with your work you must find a position that suits your tastes and demands. And for that, you must first be clear about what you are looking for, what your ambitions are.
Our advice is that you do not base the perfect work on money. Do not simply seek to reach a monetary figure, look for a sector that you like, tasks in which you feel fulfilled and a type of work that does not feel like it. What is really your goal? Work in a particular company? Have the opportunity to continue ascending? Achieve a leadership position? What really motivates you in your work?
You like your sector, but not your work
If you feel that your work has certain shortcomings, look how you could improve them. Can you add those features or do you need to change jobs? Sometimes with a simple modification of routine or simply changing departments in the same company you can get a job much more in line with your interests. A job change often causes us fear , so we prefer to stay on our site before facing the anxiety of a change. For this reason, do not discard your current job first (unless you really do not like it), having the opportunity to improve it and maintain stability.
In case you are not sure how to change the routine of your work, show your boss your desire to get a new approach. Explain what you would find more interesting and what things you could do to achieve a more pleasant and productive job. Your boss will then know whether to give you another type of task or if it is more convenient for you to change your position in the company.
What are your strengths?
Remember: the perfect job for you is the work you enjoy doing. And you usually enjoy doing what you’re good at. Which tasks do you like the most when working? In what do you feel you can give all of yourself? How would you like to be busy?
Help yourself by making a list of your strengths and weaknesses: lead teams, learn new things, be creative, socialize … Write down all your skills and abilities as well as difficulties.
What opportunities are there?
When looking for the perfect job for you, you must also keep your feet on the ground. Investigate the existing opportunities in the sector that interests you, what kind of jobs you would like to occupy and what kind of experience and skills you need to cover them.
Search for all types of competitors in the industry that may be interested in your CV. Are there few companies, are there several multinationals or is it a growing sector in which new companies are constantly emerging? Finding out this type of information will let you know if you have a chance to grow in your job and receive new knowledge, or if you will be stuck in a job.
Skills
Before the interview, find out about the position you are presenting and what it requires as a worker. Prepare the past experiences that will best serve you and relate them. You must show that you have thoroughly interested in the job before the interview, that you understand that they are looking for the perfect candidate and that you fit perfectly taking into account the experience you offer.
Ambient
Another area you can focus on is the professional environment . For example: “I’ve always wanted to work on something related to training and here I am, in an interview at a university.” In addition, you can mention the details about why you are so interested in that environment: “my parents were teachers, and I practically grew up surrounded by conversations about classes”. Again, focus on how you fit perfectly into that occupation, either in its entirety or only in part.
Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is conceived as an attractive quality in a candidate. If the job you are demanding is the dream, it means that you will be totally excited and that you will give it all in each day. Showing those emotions is the best way to earn points with the interviewer.
On the other hand, even if it is not the ideal, there are certainly different things that motivate you from this job opportunity. Talk about what most strikes you about the company and the particular position, and let him know that it would be perfect to improve certain skills and experiences.
Still, be careful: it does not seem that you will use it as a springboard and that you will abandon it as soon as another opportunity presents itself. Make it clear that you request it because you are really interested and you are looking to learn, find new passions and achieve that stability that it offers you.
What is your ideal work environment?
It is a recurring question in job interviews: What is your ideal work environment ???. There are many people who fear the time to face issues like this, because they do not know what kind of response would be appropriate in this case.
Before this question, some people think that the ideal is to describe the requested job, but it is not exactly like that. When a coach raises this, in reality what he tries to evaluate is your personality. The interviewer probably intends to inquire about your character and to what extent it adapts to the work environment of the company.
The answer you make will reveal a lot about yourself, since it requires a deep look about you and your personal traits, so try to highlight your most positive aspects.
On the other hand, before answering you must take into account how the company is structured, whether it is an SME or a large corporation, and build your response accordingly. In addition, try to emphasize that you have the ability to integrate into work teams and that you like the environments that allow you to use your skills, in addition to giving you the possibility to continue learning and growing professionally.
You can also talk about your work style, trying to reflect in your response that you adjust to the vision and style of work of the company.
In general, interviewers value sincere and honest answers. Try to tell the truth about what your ideal work environment is, meditating well on your response and taking advantage to highlight your positive qualities.
Finally, in conclusion, to find the perfect job for you, you must analyze a wide variety of factors, both internal and external. The market situation is an important factor to consider, but first you must be sure of your personal and work objectives. When you are doing an interview, nerves are on the surface: you are constantly monitoring your movements and gestures, in addition to finding the right answers. That is when the question arrives: What would be your perfect job? Many times, you tend to think that it is a trick question. Do not worry, it is not. It is simply to get an idea of your preferences and aspirations . These types of interviews are usually focused on discovering what you enjoy doing and what kind of professional environment would suit you. If, fortunately, it is the case that the position for which you are doing the interview was the ideal, do not cut yourself and make it clear that it is your maximum ambition . If on the contrary it is not, but some of the functions that you would like to exercise coincide with the work to which you are applying, try to emphasize that option as the one you would most like.