A simple way to avoid getting a job you’ll hate

I was chatting with a recruiter recently and one of the topics that came up was how some recruiters are in such a hurry to match the candidate to what they think is the ideal job, they don’t stop to ask what the candidate really wants.

The key to finding work you love is to know what you really want – and this begins from the inside out.

Before you start applying for your next job, take time to really know yourself.

Here are 3 suggestions:

  1. Read up on personality types and think about how you like to work – on your own or in a team, structured or autonomous, outdoors or indoors, regular 9-5 job or on a consultancy/freelance basis?
  2. Take Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies quiz.
  3. Work with me to assess and unpack your social and emotional intelligence profile. (Includes a two-hour session to go through what your assessment reveals and to put in place a plan of action.)

Why is this groundwork important?

Because if you’re someone who thrives on autonomy and creativity and likes to think outside the box, you really don’t want to find yourself in a job with this kind of selection criteria (for example) –

“Work has little scope for deviation. Problems can usually be solved by reference to well documented procedures and instructions and clearly established practices. Deviation from established procedures will require reference to others for guidance and direction.”