If you’re one of the many people considering searching for a new job right now, chances are you have a lot of options. With so many opportunities available, how can you make sure you chose the right one? Before you jump into the job search, ask yourself these 5 questions to identify your values, goals and priorities, and find a position that’s right for you.
What are my core values?
Core values are guiding principles that influence how you make decisions and see the world around you. When your personal core values are in line with the core values of the organization you’re working for, you will most likely feel a sense of belonging, fulfillment and be happy in your role. However, according to Inside Higher Ed, a misalignment between your personal core values and a company’s core values, “can cause everything from minor problems to major disruptions.”
It’s important to take the time to understand yourself and what values are guiding you and your choices. These core values will help you understand why you might have liked or disliked past positions and will help you determine which companies and roles might be a good fit for you moving forward.
What are my career goals?
No one likes to be stagnant. Growth is important for all aspects of life, including your career. Career growth can look different for each person. When searching for a new job, take some time to think about what your career goals look like. Is your goal to reach upper management? Maybe it’s to reach a certain salary or to find a company that will support your future educational journey. Whatever your goals may be, it’s important to find a company that will help you reach them.
What are my strengths and weaknesses?
You’ve probably been asked about your strengths and weaknesses in almost every job interview, but when was the last time you sat down and actually thought about your answer? Not only will reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses help you in a job interview, but it can also help you determine which positions you may be a good fit for. To go step further in self reflection, consider taking a personality assessment rooted in science. These tools, such as Talentoday’s MyPrint, allow job seekers to go beyond gut feelings to identify their personality traits and key motivators in the workplace.
As you read through job descriptions or company profiles with this knowledge, ask yourself if you would be able to add value to the position or company. For example, if a position calls for high volume cold calling and talking to strangers isn’t your strength, it’s probably not a good fit for you – and that’s okay! Recognizing what you’re great at and where you can improve can help guide your job search to find a role that will play to your strengths.
What did I like and dislike about my past position?
Even when you’re looking towards the future, it can be beneficial to reflect on the past. When you’re searching for a new job, ask yourself what you liked and disliked about your past positions.
Here are some examples of aspects of your past roles to reflect on:
- Pay and benefits: Did your pay rate allow you to live comfortably? Did you have any commission or bonus structure? Did the benefits package suit your needs?
- Job responsibilities: Think about your day-to-day. Did you enjoy what you did? If not, what would have made it better?
- Management style: How was your manager? Did you meet with them regularly to discuss your performance? Did you have goals or metrics to hit? What did you like and not like about the management style of the company?
- Company culture: Did the company core values align with your own? What was missing from the company culture that you value?
- Location: Did you have a long or short commute to the office? Would you prefer a position where you can work from home?
Taking time to reflect on your past positions and the pros and cons of each will help determine which types of roles are best for you to pursue as you’re searching for a new job.
What makes me happy?
You deserve to be happy. This may sound obvious to some, but many people don’t take the time to really think about what makes them happy. Oftentimes, people begin searching for a new job because they are unhappy with their current one. How can you ensure that you won’t be unhappy again in a future position?
Take some time to think about what will make you happy both in and out of the office. Whether it be the flexibility to spend more time with family and friends or the financial freedom to make a purchase you’ve been working towards, recognizing what makes you happy will help guide your job search in the right direction.
A new position offers lots of potential and opportunity. Asking yourself these 5 simple questions can help you discover your priorities and land a role that will be a great fit for you. Now, the only question left to ask is, “What’s next?”
Ready to find your next opportunity? Visit our careers site to learn more about our current openings and apply today!
