Do you realize your dream job is out there waiting for you?
And there's so much opportunity to find it!
Last month according to the US Labor Department of Labor, there were a reported 142,371,000+ jobs in the US, with new jobs being created all the time.
Even so, if you want to jump back into the working world after being out of it for months or years, it can still feel incredibly challenging.
Why?
Some say they feel stuck in their comfort zone, or don't know how to compete with younger applicants, or they don't know what to do first to find their dream job (it can be confusing as heck)!
While any of those can stop you in your tracks, I believe the biggest obstacle by far to finding your dream job is not knowing what you want to do in the first place.
How can you feel confident or enthused about looking for work if you don't even know what you're looking for? And if you're feeling pulled to do something meaningful at this stage of your life, the purpose of your work is more important than your paycheck.
So how do you figure out what your dream job is?
Don't update your resume just yet.... First:
• Identify what you love to do.
Think about the activities you love now, or those you enjoyed as a kid. Look for the underpinnings of those activities... what was it specifically about those things that you enjoy(ed)? Identify this and you'll be able to pinpoint the qualities of a job or career that'll make you love it.
• Clarify what you're good at.
What skills have you gained throughout your life? Look at both hard skills (skills that are quantifiable, like typing, computer programming or proficiency in a foreign language) and soft (interpersonal skills such as persuasion, motivation and teamwork), and take note of the skills you most enjoy using. Those are the skills your dream job should include!
• Know your communication style.
How do you work best as a leader, problem-solver and information-processor? What are your behavior tendencies when you're under stress, vs. when you're calm, collected and in your element? Your ideal job should play to your personality, not make you fight against it.
• Know what you value.
What's most important to you in terms of the environment you want to work in, the people you want to work with and the kinds of tasks you want to be doing? Find a job or career that's a good match for your values, and going to work will be a pleasure!
Once you've identified those pieces, you'll have a road map pointing you towards certain professions, and away from others. Then you have a clear starting point for narrowing down your options to something you'll love!
One last nugget...
It can be tricky to know how to get to the root of your skills, talents, values and communication style without knowing the right questions to ask. Finding a great support like a career coach or counselor is invaluable to speeding up the process, and helping you get the information you need to find your dream job sooner than later.
Here's to finding your dream job, starting today!
If you need a hand with self-assessing to find the work you'll love to do, we'd love to help. Visit us at www.creative-revelations.com/clarity.