By Sunny Simon
A new client shuffled into my office hanging his head and sadly declaring the job did not work out. As a career coach, I’ve heard that more than once. The singular reason for this is surprisingly simple. It involves making the wrong choice. Often individuals get weary of the job search, give in and settle for a misfit. The consequences of signing on with the wrong employer go deeper than eventual unemployment, self esteem suffers and the process of starting over seems daunting.
Whether you are just beginning to look for a new job or resuming your job search, it helps to set ground rules. Take time to figure out exactly what type of job duties appeal to you. Equally important is determining what you dislike. For example, if you just failed miserably at a sales job because it involved a significant amount of cold calling, chalk it up as lessons learned. Not everyone is well suited for a straight commission sales job that involves beating the bushes for clients. It may be your forte is in providing customer service to an already established book of business. Drill down and come up with a list of your talents, passions and strengths that can serve as a vetting system once you start interviewing.
Next, consider the type of job environment you find appealing. How far are you willing to commute? Do you enjoy being part of a team, or are you happy working with data independently as a sole contributor? Are you attracted to a fast-paced environment laced with a steady flow of new challenges or do you prefer a consistent dose of repetitive detail work?
When you begin the interview process keep attuned to company culture. Consider the organization’s mission. Would you be proud to be affiliated with a socially conscious company, or are you looking for a bottom line oriented culture? Size matters. Do you thrive in a large company that promotes from within or does a small family-type environment feel right? Working through this exercise helps increase your focus as you search for your dream job.
A word of caution, it may take a bit of courage to decline a job offer that does not match your criteria. Do the proper thing, say no and be graceful about it. Waiting for the right opportunity may take some fortitude. In the long run, you will avoid a do-over and a career blunder. Life is too short for do-overs. Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com
