7 steps to find a job that’s right for you
Starting your job search can feel daunting, and it can be hard knowing what to look for - how do you know which jobs are right for you?
There are many factors that influence whether a job will suit you, from the workload and team, to culture, location and more. Thankfully, there are practical ways to reflect on the sorts of roles that genuinely align with your personal and professional needs. So, this groundwork can help you avoid landing a job that doesn’t quite work for you.
Here are seven steps to help you find a job that's right for you:
1. Evaluate your skills and strengths
Before you start searching for a new job, it’s important to take note of your skills and strengths, says Leah Lambart, Career and Interview Coach at Relaunch Me.
She often advises her clients to start their job search by thinking about the skills they want to use in the future, their natural strengths and potential roles where they could use these more.
“Positive psychology research tells us that when you use your strengths, you're more engaged, less stressed and more effective in your work,” Lambart advises.
2. Identify your values
Think about what’s important to you now and what might be over the next few years, suggests Lambart. “Your values change over time. What might be important to you in your early 20s often changes by your 30s and 40s.”
This is like a compass for your career development, she says. Some people might prioritise a high income or work-life balance, while others may want to feel like they're giving back to society or contributing to a team.
“Once you’ve figured out your values, use them to assess roles. If none of your values are going to be met, it's unlikely you're going to be very happy in the job,” Lambart advises.
3. Get clear on your ideal work environment
Think about what work environment you’re looking for and would suit your personality best. Some questions to ask yourself include:
- Do you want something fast-paced or slower?
- Do you prefer a formal or casual environment?
- Would you like to work from home occasionally, all or none of the time?
Getting clear on this before you go looking for a job will help you narrow down opportunities, says Lambart, although it’s worth weighing up what you’re happy to compromise on - for example, you may prefer a job where you would be in the office an extra day per week if it offers higher pay comparative to a job that has more flexibility but lower salary.
4. Use the tools at hand
Once you know what you want, you're ready to start exploring. With so many options out there, it's best to go into your search by focusing on the elements of job ads that match your ideal requirements. These include things like:
- Job responsibilities
- Remuneration (pay, superannuation and other benefits)
- Company values and culture
- Flexibility
- Growth opportunities
You don't have to do this on your own – there are tools that can help you hone in on exactly what you're looking for. SEEK is built to make finding the right job easier. Start by building out your profile with your skills, experience and career aspirations – this helps SEEK flag opportunities that match. Then make the most of SEEK's search options, which let you filter by keyword, job classifications (such as Accounting), location and more. Then, save your searches and make sure you're set up to get email and push notifications when there are new that jobs match what you're looking for.
5. Look for a good match
In a market like this, it’s best to make sure you meet most of the key selection criteria to be shortlisted and interviewed for a job, says Lambart. “You need to carefully read what they’re looking for in a candidate and think if you could provide examples of where you’ve done these in an interview.”
“If they want very specific industry experience or knowledge and you don't have that, then it's unlikely you’ll be shortlisted in this market,” she advises.
6. Do your research
Once you’ve found a job that looks promising, dig a little deeper beyond the job ad. This could be through desktop research, says Lambart, such as looking at the employer’s website, social media, former employee reviews and recent news.
Consider if you know anyone who currently works there or has in the past who you could meet for coffee. This way, she says, you can learn about their first-hand experiences.
7. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
When you get to the interview stage, remember it’s a two-way street. While most candidates are worried about how they’re being assessed, don’t forget interviews are also used to figure out if the job is right for you. This means you shouldn’t feel embarrassed asking the hard questions, says Lambart.
“Most hiring managers would respect someone who asks them some difficult questions,” she says. “You're better off asking those questions upfront than accepting a job and finding six months down the track that it's not right for you and you're back to square one.”
Navigating job ads doesn’t have to be hard or stressful. With a thoughtful strategy and a few extra steps, it’s easier to uncover the jobs that suit you and get one step closer to landing the right job for you.
