The First Step to Finding a Job You Love
Posted on September 18, 2018 by Claudia Rossi, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Before you start searching for your next job, do this one thing.
My clients come to me because they’re unhappy with the job they have and want a new direction. They often don’t know what they want to do next, but one thing they are certain of – they know what they DON’T want.
Although the rate of job satisfaction has been rising gradually thanks to a robust economy and low unemployment rate, it’s still not uncommon for people to wonder if there is something better out there for them.
Statistics show that 75% or more of people hate their job, yet many people will stay with an unsatisfactory job because they’re uncertain of what they want to do next, or how to navigate today’s job market. The average person in the U.S. spends 90,000 hours working over the course of their career, so finding a job you enjoy can have a huge impact on your life.
It’s possible to find a career that you’re passionate about, but before taking steps towards that next job, it’s important to consider what you want in all aspects of your life, not only your career.
Here’s a simple, but powerful process, to get you started.
Set Aside Time: Select a time when you have 30 – 60 minutes of quiet time to reflect and won’t be interrupted.
Clear Your Mind: Take a few deep breaths and clear your mind of your everyday concerns and stresses.
Envision Your Future Life: Think ahead to two years from now, and image how your life would look if things were going exactly the way you wanted them in each of the categories below. Write down as much detail as you can. Don’t censor your creativity by questioning “how” you are going to make it happen – think instead of what you want that life to be like.
Finances and Home
• How much are you earning?
• What types of investments do you have?
• Describe your home in detail. How many beds/baths does it have? What type of furniture do you have? Where is your home located? Does it have a view? What kind of yard do you have?
• What type of car do you drive?
• What other major possessions do you have?
Relationships
• What is your relationship like with your significant other, family, children, siblings, parents, friends, co-workers, boss?
• What new relationships have your formed or left behind?
• How do you spend your time with these people?
Career
• What type of work are you doing?
• Where are you doing it?
• Do you work alone or with others? Indoors or outdoors?
• Who are you serving?
• Do you work for a small organization, a large one, or are you self-employed?
Recreation
• What do you do for fun and who do you do it with?
• What types of vacations are you taking?
• What hobbies are your pursuing?
• Do you have any pets?
Fitness and Health
• How is your health?
• What types of exercises do you pursue?
• How much do you weigh?
• What health issues have you improved or resolved?
Personal Development
• What steps are you taking to improve yourself?
• Are you taking or teaching any courses?
• Have you returned to school to pursue another degree?
• Do you meditate, practice yoga, or go on spiritual retreats?
• Are you learning another language or how to play a musical instrument?
Community
• What type of community do you live in?
• What type of social activities takes place?
• Are you involved with a religious organization?
• Do you volunteer or contribute to charitable causes?
Create Your Vision Statement: Once you’ve written down your thoughts, turn them into sentences and paragraphs to create a vision statement that you can reflect on every day. Write your vision statement in the present tense, as if you’ve already achieved it, and your mind will look for ways to make it happen. For even more inspiration, create a vision board with images of your ideal life.
Share Your Vision: Share your vision statement or vision board with people who will support your dreams. You’ll find that many people have similar hopes and dreams and will be willing to help you achieve yours. Sharing your dream also helps solidify it in your mind and strengthens your subconscious belief that it is attainable.
Understanding your life vision is the first step to building a career you love. Once you know what you want in all areas of your life, you can start the process of finding a career that supports those dreams.
Claudia Rossi is a certified professional coach who specializes in helping people uncover their strengths and identify careers they love. Learn more about her quest to fulfill her passion and how she helps others do the same at: My90000HourCareer.com.
