Now more than ever, it has become increasingly crucial to find a career that suits your lifestyle as well as your interests, due to the ever-changing working environments. When lockdown occurred in March 2020, many industries and sectors had to adapt to a new wave of working. Some workers were able to work from home, which has made many workers seek a better work life balance.
Here we explore the importance of finding the perfect role, along with key tips to help you find a role that SUITS you.
Interest
As much as this may sound obvious, it is key to have a genuine interest in the job you are considering. Passion for a role leads to endless motivation, creates innovative ideas and leads to career development. Having a keen interest in a role also shows when in interview through enthusiasm and excitement, which is one of the key factors hiring companies look for in potential candidates.
If you are unsure that the position is something you may be interested in, list all the key aspects of the job role and against it your skills and knowledge. The outcome will give you a valuable insight to your areas of expertise, strengths and weaknesses. From this, you can establish whether the job role are something that peaks your curiosity, and whether you can offer the employer your full commitment.
It is proven that job satisfaction reduces stress and anxiety and offers happiness and fulfilment. You are likely to achieve more in terms of career development if you enjoy your job.
Location
It is far easier to travel to destinations due to our ever-increasing infrastructure. Whereas 20 years ago it took most of the day to travel from London to Manchester, you can now travel in a matter of hours via train. Whilst this means that you are not limited to searching for local jobs, it is still important to consider your work/life impact for travel.
When seeking a new role, it is important to establish how you will get there and back (and an alternative route should your primary route become impacted). You will also need to consider the length of time it will take out of your day to travel to and from work.
Some employers may be happy for you to work remotely (i.e. not in the office), so again, you need to consider where you can work (i.e. will this be from home), and how will this impact you in terms of performing your job, training/development, and social interaction.
Another key factor to consider is the cost of travelling. Do you need to take your car to work, if so, do you need to pay for parking, or is this something that your employer will fund? If you are using trains, will you have to drive to the train station, will this cost you additional money?
Aside from the expense and practicality of travel, it is also important to work out the length of time it will take you to get to and from work. You may want to factor in delays due to traffic or train cancellations. Having a harmonious travel plan allows you to balance your work and life style and ensure productivity in the work place.
Hybrid working
The majority of companies now offer a hybrid working model which allows an employee to divide their time between commuting and the office, or other locations providing the your job can still be satisfied.
The benefits from this type of working allow flexibility and productivity. Since the pandemic, companies have adapted quickly to the right technology to be available so that you can collaborate by video conferencing. Some argue that video conferencing takes away the connection between people, but for some, it may offer confidence in being able to speak up without feeling intimidated in a room full of people.
Another advantage of hybrid working is a healthy work-life balance, and many companies are building this into their company culture. Before applying for a new role, it is important to know whether hybrid working appeals to you. Do you like the idea of remote working, or do you prefer office based, or even a mixture of both. It is important to discuss this with your employer and see whether your ideal fits into their company culture.
Salary and Total Package
A salary you are happy with is linked to motivation. The majority of people would not do their jobs if they were not paid for it. Therefore it is important for employers to advertise a role with a salary that attracts and retains talent. A total package (bonus, commission, pension, holiday etc) is a motivational tool used to keep you satisfied and rewarded for the role. The right salary and package helps build self esteem and self worth, both of which are integral to attracting quality candidates and retaining them. Never be ashamed of financial motivation, a good company will have a structure in place to motivate and reward high performance by way of some kind of compensation. It is important for you to understand how a company rewards good performance, which will keep you motivated and strive to achieve.
Career Development
If you ask yourself where you want to be in 5 years, it gives you a good chance of building the pathway to achieve your goals. Does the job that you are applying for allow you to develop? (i.e. is there room to grow, get promoted, etc) Does the company support development and qualifications? You need to look at development and growth within any job, as it keeps you focused and motivated. If the company doesn’t offer a long term plan for you, consider whether the job would be a good career path or stepping stone to get to the career or position that is part of your long term plan. Every job offers exposure and the chance to finesse skillsets, so its never a wasted opportunity.
Equality and Inclusion
Many companies are factoring ED&I into the workplace as part of their core values. Understanding that diversity allows us to bring different ideas together to create business that thrive is now one of the key priorities to businesses. What does ED&I mean to you? Is it important to you? If so, there is no harm in having that discussion with your employer and ask them what they are doing to ensure that this key value is embedded in their work culture.
Social
Some people like to go to work and then go home, whereas others may enjoy the culture of work and socialising with their work colleagues. Some companies offer a lot of social clubs or social events for staff to get involved in. If this is important to you, then your chance to ask about the company culture would be once the formal questions of interview are over. Its an important question as it gives a valuable insight into what the company is like in terms of culture, and how important colleague wellbeing is for them. If a company does not schedule or hosts many social events, it could be a good opportunity to ask whether they would be open to it, and if so, take the initiative to start a club or arrange a social gathering.
And finally……….the best person to trust whether this is a good company / job is you. Getting the right feel for people and the company comes through in interview. First impressions are everything, and although in interview you are selling your key qualities and strengths, the employers should also be doing their job to attract and show you why you should work there. Trust your instinct, and you will be starting your dream job before you know it.
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