Two Simple Tips To Finding A Job You Love

Although most of us aren’t necessarily unhappy with our current job, being in a job you love is another story.  We spend a fair amount of time working (in fact, most of us spend over 2,000 hours a year) so being in a job that you’re passionate about can make all the difference to your overall happiness. At Sourced, we’re pretty good at matching people with their dream IT jobs, so if a change is on the cards for you, here are two simple tips to finding a job you love.

Discover What Makes it a Job You Love

Before starting a job search, take some time out for a little personal reflection. What makes you happy at work? There are a number of factors that contribute towards job satisfaction, and their importance will vary depending on you. Perhaps it’s job security, autonomy, engaging work, the team culture, or a combination of these. Either way, knowing what makes you happy at work is the first step to understanding what you’re most passionate about.

Think about your current job. Are you happy in it? If not, why and what would need to change to make you feel happier? What goals have you achieved and where have you fallen short?

Reflect back on your career and take a look at your skills. What is it that you love doing? What do you do best? What do you take pride in? Whose career do you admire and why? The answers to all these questions may provide some clues to the path that you want to take and help map out any long-term goals.

Take Steps To Move In This Direction

The next step is to work out a plan to move in the right direction. Think about some of the answers to those big questions and set yourself some realistic goals, working backwards and breaking it down into actionable steps.

You don’t necessarily need to quit on the spot. If you’re working towards a long-term goal, it might mean starting out as a hobby on the side. Remember that the grass isn’t always greener and the more research and preparation you do, the more beneficial it will be in the long run.

Here are a few of our tips to get you started:

Reach out to people who hold similar roles to the job you want. Perhaps you’re a Web Developer looking for a move into Big Data. Speaking to someone in this space will help with inside information and understand the steps that need to be taken, whilst highlighting any mistakes to avoid along the way. Building relationships with people in the industry is also a great way to get yourself in front of more of the right people, learn about openings and find out what’s happening around you.

Take charge of your own development and make a habit of obtaining as much knowledge as you can. Learning and development is a continuous process and you have the most to gain from growing professionally. Look at skill gaps and upskill where necessary to help you move in the right direction.

Find a mentor who can support you in reaching your goals. A great mentor has been in your shoes and can offer guidance and support to help you get to where you want to be. They can expose you to new ways of thinking, and although you don’t want to rely on them for contacts, mentors can be a great asset to networking.

Consider freelancing to further expand your experience. A lot of technology companies not only support this now, but actively look for candidates who freelance.

Volunteer in an area to get further exposure. You’ll not only gain valuable experience, but it’s an opportunity to try out certain jobs before committing yourself completely.

Closing Thoughts

By discovering what makes you happy and taking some steps to move in that direction, you can get a lot closer to being in the job you love! If you’re hoping to find your perfect IT job, we’re here to help so get in touch with the team at Sourced.