Get your job

1. USE YOUR STRENGTHS TO LEAD

Just because you don't know what you want to do with your life doesn't mean you don't know what you're excellent at. Making a list of your strengths is an excellent method to concentrate on your abilities. If this does not come easy to you, seek the advice of a friend or trustworthy coworker. Alternatively, use a self-analysis tool such as the Myers-Briggs personality test.

Taking an active look at what you're excellent at and what makes you tick as a person is a strong approach of determining a professional path that will complement and match those skills.

Of course, if you work hard enough or put in enough time, you can be excellent at everything. However, you can save a lot of time and prevent aggravation by allowing your abilities to guide you to what you should be doing rather of pushing yourself into a job that doesn't truly suit.

For example, you may have persuaded yourself (or others) that you are not a math person, only to discover that you like utilizing logic to solve issues.

In such situation, you may have a hidden talent for something like web development that you had previously dismissed. It's easy to let preconceived notions prevent you from pursuing a successful IT job, but if you take the time to examine your talents, you'll likely be pleasantly pleased by what they reveal.

2. ANALYZE YOUR HISTORY TO AVOID A DEAD END

Answer the following questions about each location you've worked to help you understand your views about prior employment so you can seek for similar or different features in the future:

What did I like and dislike about the company?

What did I enjoy and dislike most about the industry culture?

What did I appreciate and dislike about my boss?

What did I enjoy and dislike most about the folks I worked with?

What was the most difficult aspect about working there?

When was I the happiest or proudest of myself?

What was my proudest achievement?

What did I like and dislike about my responsibilities?

Evaluating your history might also help you remember important times that you may have missed that would have indicated you weren't satisfied with your performance. Looking back reveals unfavorable trends surrounding a given kind of employment or vocation, which is a sign that it's time to move on.

You might be passing up possibilities that would be a far better match for your needs and talents elsewhere. Analyzing your history is essential for determining the kind of settings that will bring forth your greatest work and your happiest self.

3. CONTACT PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR DREAM JOB

Begin your job hunt by requesting and scheduling informational interviews with individuals in industries you're interested in to learn about their careers and acquire career guidance. Inquire about their career, their professional history and goals, and the industry.

Just be sure to prepare questions ahead of time so that you get the most out of these meetings or conversations, and, apart from the obvious "thank you" afterward, do all you can to reciprocate the favor.

Furthermore, don't restrict yourself to those you know or have contacts with. Attend conferences and seminars to network.

Participate in Twitter conversations, social media platforms, or Facebook groups. Read people's work descriptions on LinkedIn, or read interviews and articles about individuals in occupations you respect. For example, if you're wondering about what a day in the life of a WordPress developer looks like, a fast Google search will certainly provide lots of information (even a podcast or two) and people to contact.

Before you decide on a profession — or entirely rule anything out — make sure you have a feel of what the work is like on a daily basis.

4. TAKE CLASSES FIRST, THEN DETERMINE YOUR NEW CAREER

When the chance presents itself, try something new. Attend seminars, take online lessons, study books, and watch YouTube tutorials. By taking these risks, you could discover that you have a passion for UX design, digital marketing, Python programming, or something else different!

The point is that there are so many opportunities for learning new skills today, and by taking advantage of them, you have a tremendous chance to discover a passion that provides you more flexibility in terms of career alternatives, helps you acquire a job, or that you can convert into a new profession.

And, at the very least, you'll have a new talent to use in your present work (and perhaps get paid more for!) or a new passion that may be turned into a side hustle

5. CONSIDER YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT.

Are the folks at the job you're considering competitive or collaborative? Are they pals outside of work? Do they collaborate or work alone? Can individuals work from home, or are they required to come into the office? How is the work-life balance? What are the expected pay rates?

These are all critical questions to ask prospective employers and workplaces while looking for that ideal job to explore other career possibilities or to change jobs entirely.

It's also an excellent (and simple) idea to do some preliminary research on your own, both about industries in general and businesses in specific, by conducting Google searches and utilizing job boards to see what a typical job offer looks like from job posts in your preferred profession.

If you know you work best as part of a team, it's critical to locate a workplace that values collaboration. If you're more productive working alone or don't enjoy the full-time grind, freelancing or contract employment that enables you to manage yourself and establish your own terms may be a better fit.

The same is true for schedule and flexibility issues. If you thrive in a controlled workplace and like to report directly to a manager for direction, you should opt for a typical, 9-5 job in an office setting.

However, if you like the flexibility of working from home or on the road as a digital nomad, and you enjoy being your own boss or supervisor, then exploring remote employment will be critical to your professional satisfaction.

If you're not sure where you stand on these issues, you may always try doing some side work to help you figure it out. For example, if you currently work in a hierarchical setting, consider completing some solitary freelance projects and see if you notice a change in your mood.

Whether you generally spend your workdays alone, try building some peer relationships instead, or work on a collaborative side project to see if cooperation is more your thing.

6. DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY (EVEN IF YOU'RE UNSURE WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOUR CAREER)

When it comes to your career, there are two crucial questions to consider:

What do you like doing so much that you'd do it for free?

Consider this: if you love something so much that you would do it for free, wouldn't being paid for it be the definition of a dream job?

Consider what that "free job" is and then start linking it to paid opportunities in the same sector.

What would make you the most happy (rather than what would earn you the most money)?

While we all need to pay our bills and, presumably, have enough money to live comfortably, you shouldn't take the most prominent career solely to impress others at cocktail parties.

Instead, for more long-term satisfaction, find a vocation that allows you to develop and learn while also making you happy.

So, consider what actually interests you, rather than what seems to be the most profitable or powerful on paper.

Try to identify the things that pique your interest in such a manner that you can always generate at least a smidgeon of enthusiasm for them, and then utilize those interests to direct you toward an appropriate professional path.

Finding your ideal career should never mean sacrificing your values or what you want out of your work life, and the good news is that it doesn't have to.

Following the recommendations above can help you establish a clear sense of what makes you tick professionally, allowing you to identify work prospects and a career path that really suits your interests and requirements.

You may believe you don't know what you want, but with little thought and persistence, you'll soon find it's just around the corner.