Job searching is a challenging time.
Even when you think you know what you want to do, and you are sure that you have the skills and expertise to find a new job, there is always a little bit more to think about.
What are your job searching preferences?
Changing jobs or starting out on your career requires plenty of preparation and some of it requires some careful reflection and self-analysis.
Job searching for job satisfaction
Real job satisfaction comes not only from having the right experience, knowledge and qualifications for the job but also from hitting your personal hot buttons too.
Before serious job searching you need to think about the following:
- Your Accomplishments
- What are your best achievements and what successes are you particularly proud of. What did you do, how did you do it and what was the impact? Answers to these questions will help you prepare strong applications, add value to your CV and give you a framework for any interviews you have, be they formal or informal. Using the PAR formulae [or STAR framework] you can make powerful sentences that highlight your strengths.
You can prepare job searching PAR stories at any time but focus specifically on your contribution, what you did and how the outcome was achieved. It’s your story to tell and your achievements that need to be told. Include measurable results and summarise well.
- Your Key Character Traits
- How do your family, close friends and colleagues describe you? Is your behaviour and personal characteristics in line with what you are planning to do next? Understanding yourself, how you work and perceive others all helps in preparing yourself for job searching.
- Your Personal Gripes and Grins
- Are you sure you know what you want from a job and what gives you pleasure and job satisfaction? Discovering that you know you want to work with top technology but that you must have your own personal space is important before you start job searching. Likewise if you know you need variety and the opportunity to work with many different people then you can be sure to check that the next job has these elements as well.
- Your Interview Communication Skills
- Can you talk about yourself and describe your achievements succinctly? Hmmming and hahhhing at interviews is a give away that you have not prepared fluent responses to potential job interview questions. Rehearse your stories and ask family and friends to give you mock interview practice so you gain experience in replying easily and confidently.
![Job searching with the right tools]()
Job searching with the right tools
- Your Job Satisfiers
- Along with your gripes and grins, your satisfiers are the hot buttons that make your day job into a pleasurable work experience. These may be the hours of work, the benefits you gain, the people you work with, your status or even the environment you need to work in.
- Your Loves and Interests
- What do you really enjoy doing and what are you passionate about? Are there any ethical or cultural influences that make your day better and make you feel good? Matching your interests and passions to your next job will make going to work a pleasure.
- Your Professional Skills
- What qualifications have you got, what expertise and experience do you bring to a new employer? Recognising that you have the knowledge, skills and professional expertise to start job searching for the ideal job is important to say the least. Listing all the training and development, formal and informal, so you can capitalise on using it on applications and in interviews will give you a head start.
- Your Strengths and Limitations
- Every once in a while during job searching, you are going to be faced with a problem, a rejection or a difficulty and understanding where your personal strengths lie and how you can use them to overcome these hiccups will be a bonus for you. At the same time, recognising that you will also have development needs and weaknesses that can be worked on ensures you are realistic and suitably self-aware.
- Your Core Values
- What do you really believe in, and what couldn’t you work without? Essentially all businesses have core values and beliefs, if you are unsure of your own then you may be at odds with a new job and new company. Be clear in how you view the workplace, what culture and styles are important to you and what your motivators are for the new job.
If you need more support job searching then contact us; we’re ready and willing to help.
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