The Harvard Business Review has published an essay on the topic of job searches. The following are some of our main insights for narrowing down your job search and connecting with your dream employment. For those with more time, we recommend reading the essay in its entirety here.
- Job titles can be deceiving because they might mean various things at different companies.
- There is a two-part exercise that will help you find a career you'll enjoy doing:
- To begin, ask yourself four basic questions: Who would you like to spend your day with? What do you see yourself doing in the future? What location do you want to perform it in? And what motivates you to do it? Answer the questions truthfully.
- Then, in your job hunt, apply your Who, What, Where, and Why answers. Go to Google and type in "careers in [your field of interest]." This straightforward search will yield a wealth of useful information, ranging from professional associations to job posting sites with specific positions.
- Even if a position appears to be ideal, don't stop looking there. Identify opportunities at a few different companies that fulfill your "must-have" criteria and compare job descriptions to find the greatest fit.
- Another method is to read or watch interviews with people who have the type of work you want, or to talk to others who have comparable jobs. You can use LinkedIn to contact people who have your dream job and send them a personalized message that says something like, "I've recently graduated with a degree in ——- and I'm looking for possible careers in -----. I'd love to learn more about how you got your job, what it entails, and what aspects you love the most; your advice will help me make a more informed decision about my career."
Remember that you may not enjoy every aspect of a work, and that's just fine! Expect to analyze and re-examine your responses as you gain experience, in order to determine what feels right for you and to help you visualize where you want to go.