How to Find a Job Worth Having

Finding Work is Complex

I admit, it has been a long time since I’ve looked for a job. However, I often talk with people who are looking for a job. Finding work is a big and complex topic. The advice I give depends on a number of factors. The two factors that I am most interested in are the following:

Are you really ready to leave your current position?
Are you really ready to work?

Are you really ready to leave your current position?

Many people who are looking for a job already have one. People who already have jobs often lack urgency about finding a new one. The desire to find a new job is often fleeting. The feeling comes and goes in direct relationship to the events of that given day.

Let’s face it: it can be hard to leave a position when you have been there for a while and know what to expect. Even if you don’t like the job, it’s often easy to stay. It’s easier to postpone the job search.

How do you get ready to leave?

Do what you can to resolve your concerns. Ask the questions you need to ask. Request support that you need. Confront whatever needs to be confronted in as assertive a manner as possible. We often want to leave situations, jobs, people and places that make us uncomfortable. We want to leave jobs that challenge us to confront what we would rather ignore.

Once you have addressed your concerns and contributed what you can contribute, whether the problem has resolved or not, you will be ready either to stay and recommit yourself to the job or go.

Are you really ready to work?

Sometimes people aren’t ready to work. A person may want a “job,” but may find themselves ill equipped to do the leg work. This can be due to a lack of confidence related to any number of circumstances.

Feeling lukewarm about putting yourself out there.
Tending to think “why would someone hire me?”
Being relatively comfortable while being under-employed or unemployed, you may lack the drive needed to find a job worth having.

How do you get ready to work?

The best way to get ready to work again is to really focus on what you want that work to provide. It may be something internal like a boost in your self esteem because you are contributing your talents. It may be a relief from boredom. It may be a sense of pride and personal accomplishment. There may be a big ticket item you want to purchase. Perhaps you want a loved one to be proud of you.

Any job worth having requires you to have a reason why you want it. Even if the interviewer never asks that question. You need to know the answer.

Come out from behind the web search. Yes, many jobs can be found online, but the way to get a job is through relationships. Everyone that is hiring believes it is hard to find good candidates. They would rather have referrals from trusted employees or colleagues.

If you want to find a job worth having you have to talk to people and let them know that you are looking for work and what kind. You need to follow up with them. You need to be willing to risk rejection. You must be willing to hear any number of “no’s” so that you can get to any number of “yes’s.” People want to hire folks who are passionate and confident.

If one of your barriers to finding a job worth having is your self esteem, anxiety or some other personal challenge…get help removing or managing those barriers. It just looks like it is easy for everyone else. It’s not. You can find a job worth having if you want one and you are ready to do the “work” it takes to get work.

Share your thoughts on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter or log in to one of your accounts below to comment. Subscribe to my YouTube channel.