Take a moment to picture your ideal career…
Is it the job you’re in now, or were you just daydreaming about greener pastures in another role or company? If it’s the latter, don’t worry. We’ve all been there.
Maybe you’re worried that you don’t have the right skills or experience to get the job you really want. Or perhaps you’re not even sure what you want to be doing, but you know it’s not this. This feeling of being stuck is common, whether you’re just starting, considering a career change, or simply feel you’ve hit a wall.
Whatever your reason for seeking a change, we’re here to help. We’ve put together some expert advice, inspired by our new free course – Life’s Work – hosted by our Chairman and CEO, James Reed. Here are three practical tips from the course to help you find a job you’ll love (and Love Mondays):
Know what you want (what you really, really want)
This may seem obvious, but having a solid idea of what you want from your career is the first step to getting there. True job satisfaction comes from finding a role that aligns with who you are.
How to identify your career goals and values
Start by understanding your values, goals, and strengths, and then use that knowledge to reflect on what careers you’ll find fulfilling. Ask yourself some honest questions:
- What are your key skills and weaknesses? Identifying your transferable skills is a great starting point.
- What tasks do you excel at (or dread doing)? Think about the parts of your previous roles you enjoyed most.
- Where do you see yourself in the future? A Personal Development Plan (PDP) can help you map this out.
Armed with these answers, you’ll feel more confident that your next career move is the right one, because it matches not just what you want out of your job, but out of your life too.
Do your research
One of the most challenging parts of changing jobs is making sure you land in a sector that isn’t in decline. Your dream job needs to be sustainable.
How to research growing industries and stable companies
This means digging into current in-demand and stable sectors to see where your skills might fit. Industries like technology, particularly AI, and education are showing consistent growth. You can use a salary checker to understand earning potential in different fields.
It’s also a good idea to look into the companies you’re interested in. Do their values align with yours? Are they financially stable?
You won’t want to jump ship only to find yourself in a company you don’t like – or worse, that could lead to your job being at risk a few months down the line. Reading company reviews and recent news articles can provide valuable insight.
How to: Research a company before you apply
Get networking
Or, as James Reed CBE puts it in his book, ‘Life’s Work’, – go to parties.
The truth is, the word ‘networking’ has become synonymous with things like sweaty palms at awkward social events and random DMs on LinkedIn. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
How to network effectively (without the awkwardness)
When you strip it down to its essentials, networking is really about connecting with people who can help you (and vice versa). Here’s how to approach it:
- Start with people you know: Go for coffee with a friend to pick their brains about a sector you’re interested in.
- Attend industry events: Go with the aim of getting to know people, not just collecting business cards.
- Use LinkedIn strategically: Personalise your connection requests. Explain why you want to connect – maybe you admire their career path or work at a company you’re interested in. Learning how to add courses to your LinkedIn profile can also make you a more attractive connection.
Thinking of networking as building relationships, rather than just a jobseeking task, can make it a far more effective and enjoyable process.
Still feeling stuck?
At the end of the day, only you can really know what the right career is for you. But if you’re still feeling unsure about what you want to do next, our free course, ‘Life’s Work: How to get ahead in a career you love’, can help.
Hosted by our Chairman and CEO, James Reed CBE, and Executive Coach Steph Rix, ‘Life’s Work’ will give you all the tools you need to discover the best career path for you and, once you know, to land your dream job.
It’s free for a limited time only, so grab it while you can.
Ready to find a job you’ll love? View all available jobs on Reed.co.uk now.
