Questions To Ask Yourself Before Starting A Job Search
Whether you’re a university graduate looking to make your first steps into a career, or are a seasoned professional in the world of work looking to make a move, it may be that you think you know what you want your life to look like, but really don’t at all.
Below, you will find a list of questions to ask yourself before you buckle up for a (potentially long) job search, to ensure you secure the best possible role with the least amount of time wasting – we’re literally helping you to take the error out of trial and error here!
What do I actually like?
As obvious as it may seem, you’ve got to really think about what you like and have an interest in. Now, the first thing might be your favourite thing in the world and it might come to you quickly, whether that is fashion, food or felines, but this may not be a logical or appropriate career path for you. Have a deeper think into it, because the things that could be better for you in the long-run could be the ones that don’t spring to mind first. What have you been passionate about for the longest time? This might not be your most fiery passion, but is the longest standing – realistically, it can take a long time to get a job, let alone the amount of time it might take to progress to a position you aspire to be in, so it is vital that you don’t choose something on a whim (as you’ll only set yourself back).
How am I going to work best?
Whether you’ve had exposure to a number of different working styles, or only have history in education to compare to, you need to assess how you’re going to be able to reach your optimum productiveness. Could you see yourself in an open-plan office where everyone shares the space, or are you more of a lone wolf, working better when you are in peace and quiet? Think about your own working style and what helps you get the most done, because if you are a team-player and join a company where you will spend most of your time working alone, you won’t enjoy it very much. The same goes for location – do you think you’d get bored working in an office or would you like the structure and company that it will offer? Along with this, try to determine what management style you react best to, and the amount of responsibility and autonomy you will want to be given (and will be realistically be able to handle). Are you easily distracted and need to be handed task after task, or do you prefer to be given space and autonomy?
Where do my skills lie?
Think back on previous projects at work or during school: have you found in the past that you are more of a numerical whiz, or are you more of a wordsmith? Would you need extra help in some departments which aren’t necessarily your strong points? You’ll need to address your strengths and weaknesses, and find a role where you can make the most out of the cards you’ve been dealt.
As well as your specific competencies, you should think about personality suitability too – are you usually the one to take a lead on team projects, or do you prefer to let someone else take the reins and play more of a supporting role? This will be a big clincher for, not only your enjoyment of a role, but also your ability to get it in the first place. If you don’t think much into this, and apply for a lot of roles that require being an extrovert and you are actually more of an introvert, then you may find that you’ll face a lot of interview or application rejection due to unsuitability. Save yourself the time and disheartenment, and do sufficient research into the qualities that candidates require to thrive in each role you apply to.
Do I need to gain more experience, life or otherwise?
Getting this new role may seem like exactly the thing you need to do right now because we are all destined for a life in the working world, but are you just getting a job because that’s what you expect the next stage in your life to be? This may not be the case for you as an individual, and it may be a fantastic time to do something you may never again get the opportunity to. If you’re fresh out of education and have no obligation to a company yet, or have recently found yourself unemployed with no immediate commitments tying you down, you may find that it is a good time to get some miles under your belt, or dabble in something you know won’t be long-term (travelling, working abroad, doing some volunteering, or taking up a short-course, etc). Ask yourself whether you’re fully ready to commit to a career yet, or if you need to go and gain some more life experience first.
As well as the potential for personal development, you could also consider whether you have skills that could do with fine-tuning, or work-related weaknesses that need addressing. For example, would your prospects be enhanced if you took it upon yourself to do an online course? In this digital age, learning to code or taking the time to update your software skills may be invaluable in separating yourself from other quality candidates.
Where do I see myself in 5 years’ time?
It can be tricky thinking about the future and where you want to be in 5 years’ time, but it may be the difference between choosing one role over another. A good place to start is to have a think about your goals, whether they’re personal or professional, and think about where you would ideally like to be in your life in that time frame. Do you see yourself in a management position or is that not high up on your list of priorities? Are you more concerned with moving up in one business or trying your hand at starting your own company? Whatever path you prefer the thought of, you should assess the potential that each role can offer you this future, as some careers may be able to and others may not.
If your personal and financial goals are more important than career-specific ones, you should give some thought to the possibility of a role being able to facilitate them – for example, are you drawn to a career where work-life balance is amazing but the earnings are fairly low? If achieving your goals depends on your financial situation, and in five years’ time you want to be able to buy a house, then it may be more sensible to look into positions where you may have to sacrifice some of the work-life balance for extra income (e.g. a sales-based, commission-oriented role). Think about progression, earnings, work-life balance, opportunities associated with the role (travel, events etc.) and what is important to you.
Am I prepared to commute?
If you’ve always worked locally, or have never worked before, then it is unlikely that you will even know how you would handle having to commute. Sometimes you can find the perfect role, but the wrong location, or maybe the perfect role comes along but it’s an hour away – are you likely to loathe a long journey, and consequently loathe your job, or are you the kind of person who likes the time to relax in the morning and read a book/listen to music? Your commute can very much turn a love into a hate, if you aren’t well prepared for it – do you have to get multiple modes of transport? Is there a lot of traffic? Will you have to walk no matter if it’s rain or shine? All of these things will factor in to how much you want to stay in bed in the morning, ignoring that nagging alarm clock. It may be best to do a couple of trial runs before you decide on a location, to see what you’re getting yourself in for.
Relocation is an option, and a good one for those who are looking for a bit more excitement and a bit less commuting time, but it isn’t always feasible for your situation, and it definitely isn’t always the most financially viable. Here’s a fun fact for you that may make this point a little more real – it is alleged that us Brits spend about 10,634 hours of our lives commuting, which is equal to about a year of our lives! The average person’s commute is around 54 minutes, but can easily range from a stroll down the road to a 3 hour train ride.
