2. Explore your options
In the previous phase, we introduced exercises that you can use to find out what is important to you in terms of your career, what you are good at and what you enjoy. This information can help you to identify areas in which you can apply yourself.
If you don't plan to create your own job (which is perfectly fine, it's called entrepreneurship), you need to know what options exist.
How to get started
Whether you're a novice or a seasoned professional, it is essential to begin with a comprehensive overview. Just as one would navigate a new work environment by familiarizing oneself with each room and its contents, it is prudent to gain a holistic understanding before embarking on specific tasks. This approach ensures that seemingly straightforward activities, such as printing a document, do not unexpectedly transform into convoluted and time-intensive endeavors.
Job portals
You can use the job portals to find your way around. Here are some examples:
Job portals can be great for primary research, but sometimes we come across a field where the options are not so obvious. So if you haven't found what you wanted on portals, try LinkedIn.
LinkedIn stands as the preeminent professional network, boasting an expansive user base exceeding 700 million individuals. It serves as a vital platform for fostering connections among professionals and individuals from diverse industries. In essence, it parallels the concept of Facebook, albeit with a distinct focus on forging professional relationships, allowing users to share their career milestones and achievements through their feed in a manner that is considerate and respectful to their connections.
How do I start using LinkedIn to explore my career options?
- By crafting a comprehensive profile, you enhance its credibility and increase the likelihood of having your connection requests accepted. The more information you provide about yourself, the stronger your professional presence becomes. Unsure about how to optimize your profile? Look no further than our esteemed CV Conslutation, where our experts are ready to provide invaluable guidance and assistance.
- Expand your network by seeking out contacts within your immediate sphere, including classmates, friends, teachers, and professionals in your vicinity. Conducting a simple search by name enables you to locate them effortlessly. Additionally, leverage the search functionality to explore individuals within specific fields, such as Andragogy. This resourceful feature not only presents individuals associated with the field but also showcases relevant companies, job opportunities, and interest groups. Take full advantage of these options to build a robust network, as the breadth of your connections directly impacts the search engine's ability to yield fruitful results.
- Initiate meaningful connections and cultivate your social capital by leveraging LinkedIn's unique networking dynamics. Unlike Facebook, the objective here is not to establish personal friendships or divulge personal information. Instead, LinkedIn focuses on fostering connections rooted in professional interests. It is customary to send connection requests to individuals whom you may have never met and are unlikely to meet in person. When reaching out to someone in your industry, it is advisable to provide a rationale to support your request. For instance, expressing a genuine interest in exploring career options and seeking inspiration from their professional journey can serve as a compelling justification for connecting with them.
- Harness the power of seeking advice by leveraging LinkedIn's messaging feature. While browsing profiles can offer inspiration for your career trajectory, on LinkedIn, you have the unique opportunity to connect with individuals directly through personal messages. Encountered someone with a captivating career path? Feel free to reach out to them, expressing your genuine interest and posing thought-provoking questions that resonate with you. You may be pleasantly surprised by the willingness of many professionals to share their experiences and insights. Remember, even if a conversation doesn't materialize, there's no cause for concern. The worst-case scenario is that the person may not respond, but that should not deter you from exploring other avenues of engagement.
- Stay informed and up-to-date by embracing the multifaceted nature of LinkedIn. While the platform revolves around individuals, it also offers valuable insights through company profiles and interest groups. These resources can serve as valuable repositories of information, providing details on new positions, job descriptions, and industry trends. To tailor your content consumption, consider incorporating relevant hashtags into your feed, such as #innovation, ensuring that you don't miss out on any pertinent updates. By proactively leveraging these features, you can stay abreast of the latest developments and maximize your knowledge acquisition on LinkedIn.
TIP! Remember that what area your contacts are from will shape your content in the feed. If you want to broaden your options, you need to reach out to people outside your industry.
Company Career Sites
To refine and tailor your career options, consider directing your focus towards specific companies that align with your desired company culture and job preferences. Explore organizations that resonate with your professional aspirations and visit their dedicated career pages to gain valuable insights. These pages provide comprehensive information regarding open positions and their respective recruitment processes. By delving into the details, you can ascertain the qualifications and skills sought for each role, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and expectations associated with the positions of interest. This meticulous research empowers you to make informed decisions and align your career trajectory with organizations that best match your preferences and objectives.
What is corporate culture?
Company culture encompasses both explicit and implicit guidelines that govern behavior within an organization. It encompasses the values, attitudes, and conduct exhibited by individuals in the workplace. Examples of its expression can be observed through actions such as applause or disapproval, the choice of attire, and the language employed for communication. Each company possesses a distinct culture that should align harmoniously with the attitudes and values of its employees. A thriving company culture fosters an environment where individuals can thrive and feel a sense of belonging, enabling the organization to cultivate a unified and purpose-driven workforce.
Networking
Fed up with the online world and would like to explore your options offline? Start personal networking. There's nothing easier than talking to people about their career path.
Advantages of networking
- By cultivating a network of contacts, you are forging valuable connections that can prove advantageous in the future. Having non-staffing acquaintances can be particularly beneficial when seeking new job opportunities. These connections provide support, guidance, and potentially open doors that may not be accessible through traditional staffing channels. Embrace the power of expanding your network with individuals who can serve as trusted allies in your career journey, offering insights, recommendations, and opportunities beyond the confines of formal staffing avenues.
- Engaging in conversations allows for valuable feedback. By interacting with others, you receive immediate insights into how you impact those around you. Generally, we naturally gravitate towards individuals who express interest and possess attentive listening skills, fostering a conducive environment for meaningful dialogue. These exchanges enable us to gain valuable feedback, enhancing our understanding of how our words and actions resonate with others.
- Inspiration comes without a price tag. Often, we find ourselves paying substantial amounts to receive guidance on work organization and stress management from external sources. However, through networking, you have the freedom to inquire and seek inspiration from others without any financial burden. Engage in conversations and draw insights from fellow professionals, allowing their experiences to inspire and guide you on your work organization and stress management journey.
How to start networking?
- Make a list of people who can be a source of inspiration on your career path. This could be friends, family, teachers, former classmates, influencers or celebrities.
- Consider what you would ideally like to ask or what the conversation should cover. This could be a general topic about your current job or an introduction to your project for feedback.
- Approach the person and schedule a meeting.
We believe that for some people networking is a big step out of their comfort zone, so start with people you know and gradually expand your comfort zone.
How to choose the perfect job position
During your research, you may find that there are plenty of career options. So how do you find out which one is perfect for you? Go back to the previous Know Yourself phase. The ideal job should be based on your values and attitudes. These then form the basis of the other requirements.
Questions to help you determine the requirements for your perfect job
- What is your job supposed to bring you? Why do you want to do it?
- What is important to you in life? What do you want from it?
- What kind of working relationship do I want?
- What motivates you to work?
- What kind of focus do you want to pursue?
- What kind of company culture would you like to work in?
- What kind of working hours would you like?
- Are you more of a team player or do you prefer to work alone?
- What benefits would you appreciate?
- What competencies, skills and knowledge do you want to use?
Be sure to note the results of your own survey, e.g. in the form of requirements for your ideal job. You can prioritise these requirements using the MoSCoW method.
MoSCoW method
How to proceed
- Write down all the requirements and other things that are related to your job, from the job description to the appearance of your workplace.
- Prioritise each requirement from essential to least important.
-
- Must have
Requirements that the work must meet (derived from values) - Should have
Requirements that an ideal job should have, but can be discounted - Could have
Requirements that would be nice if the job had, but not a necessity - Will not have
Lowest priority requirements
- Must have
- Add one last category. Things you definitely don't want in your ideal job.
- The resulting requirements sheet will help you in your job search.
TIP!
It is possible to have more than 3 job paths and up to 15 jobs in a working lifetime and be successful in all of them. Whether you're looking for a permanent job or just trying to navigate the future, remember that none of the choices you make now or your chosen path is final. The key is to be open to new opportunities, which you will often stumble upon through serendipity.
And how to make the right decision?
Do you need to decide on a specific company or perhaps between several job offers? A motivation field analysis will help you decide. Download the worksheet and discover what motivates or discourages you.