One of the biggest pitfalls when searching for a career is that many people are just not realistic enough. Whether you’re a recent graduate trying to find a career, or a casualty of a corporate downsizing, the process of finding a new career is time-consuming, frustrating and humbling for most. While no one is suggesting that you take the first job available sometimes it is worthwhile being a little pragmatic when it comes to your career search. When you are unemployed, or if you are looking for a new career while employed, you must be cognizant of the job market. The first step is realising that finding a career is a huge commitment if you want to be successful. Once you have accepted this, make sure your bases are covered and know what you want.
Prepare your CV. While this may seem elementary, it is important to ensure that your Curriculum Vitae includes all the information a prospective employer will want to know about you, including personal details, education, work history, skills and abilities. Make sure that your Curriculum Vitae is honest, succinct and spell checked.
Choose a career. Decide what career you are interested in and compare the requirements of the job to your Curriculum Vitae. Do you have the experience to apply for the job? Do you fit in terms of education, employment history and salary bracket? Read the job description thoroughly and decide whether you are capable of fulfilling the duties. You can search for careers that will challenge your experience and expertise, but remember to be realistic about your competence and whether you are capable of meeting the challenges.
Research the industry. You need to know what salary to expect, what the hours would be for the job, and what kinds of sacrifices you would have to make. Salary and benefits are one of the major decisions attracting us to certain careers. However, there are three things you need to consider in conjunction with the salary.
Firstly, you need to understand the role and be capable of completing the required tasks otherwise the only thing you will have to show is a failure added to your Curriculum Vitae.
Secondly, the opportunity for advancement and promotion is important, irrespective of salary. At the end of the day if you can’t get a promotion in the company it will stifle your salary prospects.
Thirdly, job satisfaction is probably an even more important aspect that the salary itself. You spend about 30% of your life working. It is therefore wise to choose a career where you can find satisfaction and fulfillment as opposed to a large salary for a job you hate.
Put in your hours. You need to realise that it will probably take a long time before you land the career that you want, so it is important to be patient. It may be necessary to find part time employment while you search for the career you really want. The harder you work the more likely you are to be successful. The more effort you put into your career search such as making phone calls, applying for positions, talking to consultants and attending interviews, the better your chances of finding the career you desire.
You need to be realistic about what will be a good fit for you in terms of finding a decent salary, and a place where your lifestyle or career ambitions will mesh with the company. Career search takes a lot of hard work. However, if you are smart about the process, put in the effort, and do your homework, you will be rewarded by finding a career that suits you.
Talent Ocean is more than just a job portal; we are an online talent management solution. Designed to provide answers for the needs of companies, recruiters and job seekers, Talent Ocean improves career prospects by bridging the gap between candidates and agencies. Talent Ocean hopes to change the way employers, recruiters and candidates find each other, meet and develop partnerships