How To Spot The Job I Want |
Now you know more about what is important to you about work and how your current role meets (or doesn't meet) your needs, It's time to think about your future career.
It's easy to fall into the trap of applying for any job that seems half-ok; especially once we've been job-hunting for a while. We almost start thinking that we'll take any job. But recruiters can spot that a mile off and it won't do you any favours in the selection process. |
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It sounds tough, but it's really important to try to restrict your applications only to jobs that you actually want. Otherwise you'll just end up job-hunting again in a few months.
Being able to spot the jobs you want takes a little rational thinking. The good news is that the next few exercises have been specially developed to help you spot what you're looking for in a job advert.
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Exercise 5: How To Spot The Job I Want |
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If you're stuck on this, PeopleMaps do a really useful, free mini personality profile report that you can use as part of their Career Planner tool. It helps you work out what type of job you'd enjoy - and be able to convince an interviewer of why they should hire you. |
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The next exercise asks you six questions that can help you work out how to spot your "dream" job. It's easy to do this subjectively (emotionally), so the exercise is designed to add an objective (more rational) viewpoint to your decision.
The answers you give to these questions form the basis of looking at your longer-term career aims and assessing whether a particular job would be the right choice for you.
This exercise builds on your answers to exercises 1 to 4. It takes your understanding of what motivates you up to the next level. Once you're more aware of your personal motivations, then you can start to uncover hints of these in job adverts.
Being able to spot parts of a job that hit your motivation buttons, before you even apply, means you will be more selective and enthusiastic about the jobs you apply for and will increase your chances of getting them.
Click here for a blank form
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Step 1 - What are the top 3-5 things I am looking for in a job? |
Continuing with Emma's example
1. A challenging position
2. Training and development
3. Career progression - preferably structured
4. Working with a dynamic team
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Step 2 - What would getting these things do for me?
This might seem an odd question, but it really helps you clarify what you're looking for & why. |
It would get me excited about my job. I'd get a chance to develop my skills and really have a sense of direction. I'd have more responsibility and would be able to make more of a contribution to the business.
It would make me happy.
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Step 3 - 3. How might I spot these in a job advert? For example, what types of phrases or promises would the advert have to include? Note: this question may be tough to answer, if you are early in the job hunting process. |
Ok, let's think. I've read loads of ads this evening.
I guess they'd use words like
- make a contribution
- develop
- dynamic
- challenge
Need to work on that question - will come back to it later.
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Step 4 - Are my expectations realistic?
If not, what would be more realistic?
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I think they're realistic.
I've got a good degree and I know I've got some skills that are useful to an employer. I just need to get them past the fact I've been temping for so long. I guess that might not look so good.
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Step 5 - an I satisfy these needs in other areas of my life?
Depending on your answers to the first question, this question may be easy to answer or it may seem irrelevant. If it's not relevant to you, then you don't need to answer it.
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Maybe through something like voluntary work, but I think I'd rather do it through a job.
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Step 6 - Is there anything I need to change about the way I have been looking for jobs, to meet these needs? |
Yeah, I reckon I need to start looking for more demanding jobs.
I want to go back and do more thinking about those keywords.
I wonder if you can do keyword searches on job search engines?
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These questions help you uncover any expectations of your next job that you might not have realised you had.
Being able to assess a job advert against your expectations is a great way to decide more objectively whether you should apply. It can be easy to be dragged into the excitement a potential role seems to offer and spend time, effort and money applying for it, only to find out that it doesn't really give you what you're looking for.
Job ads are just that: adverts. Like any marketing, they are designed to get you excited and bring in the highest possible number of suitable applicants.
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If you're stuck on this, PeopleMaps do a really useful, free mini personality profile report that you can use as part of their Career Planner tool. It helps you work out what type of job you'd enjoy - and be able to convince an interviewer of why they should hire you. |
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Next: Deciding Whether To Apply
How to save yourself months of wasted applications. |
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