How to find a job you love? It happens more often that we think, explains Perry Maddox, sharing 4 steps to help you land a job that you love.
It’s hard enough to find a job.
Between the challenges of job searches and jobs themselves, landing a job that you love may feel out of reach. Small wonder that we call them dream jobs.
Don’t stop dreaming.
I recently discovered a Gallup poll that found 48 percent of Americans are “completely satisfied with their job.” Turns out, this is nothing new. One in two respondents have answered this way for over a decade.
Far from a dream, finding a job that you love is achievable.
The Great Myth of Job Satisfaction.
Think about all the jobs out there.
A few are glamorous and well paying, but not half of them. For half of Americans to report complete job satisfaction, something else is at play.
This great myth of job satisfaction is that WHAT we for a job is what brings the satisfaction.
Remember the question as a kid, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We’ve been asking the wrong question. Rather, the research tells us:
- Job type isn’t the answer. There is little evidence that what people do for a job impacts satisfaction. Simply having a job is a big boost, but beyond that, what you do for a living isn’t the answer.
- Money can’t buy happiness. The satisfaction boost from a pay raise is temporary, while prioritizing financial reward hurts satisfaction.
- Values are key. When there is a match between personal and employer values, we find satisfied employees.
- Achievement matters. A sense of achievement is “universally the most important driver” of satisfaction. Whether it is hard-earned success, service to others or mastering skills, a sense of achievement is essential.
Put it all together. It’s one thing to share values with your employers. It’s another level entirely when your co-workers share those values and sense of achievement too. What we’re really talking about here is belonging and purpose.
It’s not what you do that matters for satisfaction. It’s why, and with whom.
How to Find a Job You Love through Four Steps.
Now that we understand job satisfaction, here’s how to find a job you love.
Step 1. Ask the Big Questions. What do you believe is fundamentally true in life and in the world? Whether that’s a a religion, a belief that the world needs to change, or a call to serve others, start by asking the big questions.
What big problem do you dream of solving in the world? Similarly, what idea do you dream to bring to life? Likewise, what would you do if you didn’t have to work at all?
Step 2. Look in the Mirror. When it comes to work, when are you happiest? Overall, how do you do your best work? ow ask what gets you out of bed buzzing in the morning. What can you get so lost doing that you lost track of time? Which ideas excite you most?
Don’t be afraid to take a personality test. I like Meyer-Briggs and Enneagram (I’m a ENFP campaigner and a 2W3 Host, respectively) and while they should all be taken with a grain of salt, there are plenty of free tests online to stimulate your self reflection.
Step 3. Get out of Your Head. Now seek an outside perspective. Ask trusted work colleagues and friends what they see in you. What do they think is your USP? If you have a mentor or coach, talk with them about this.
Get out the door (or on to LinkedIn) to network, mingle, meet and chat with people. Learning what they love may inspire your thinking.
Step 4. Plan Your Journey. Finally, do the market research. Search for jobs that match what you’ve learned about yourself in steps 1-3. If they exist, and you have the skills and experience, get on with applying.
If you can’t land the job just yet, remember that this is a journey. Pull up a few dream job descriptions, jot down the common requirements, and then use your next job or two to build that required skills and experience. This may involve trade-offs along the way.
In the words of a colleague who found a job they love:
[To leave my old job for this one] was also quite a bold move in terms of security and money. I think part of what got me this job was a willingness not to look for or expect everything I wanted in a job – to make some compromises. And making those compromises have been worth it 100 times over.
Now that You Know How to Find a Job You Love.
So what are you waiting for?
If you’re on the job hunt, now you know how to find a job you love. If you’re not looking, take some time to self-reflect without the pressure. Either way, don’t wait.
As another friend who just changed jobs told me:
A big piece of the puzzle for me was taking action: not hoping or wishing or wondering but acting instead of waiting around for something to happen.
Complete job satisfaction isn’t a myth or a dream. On the contrary, it’s entirely possible. Job satisfaction comes in all shapes and sizes.
Get out there and find yours.
