How to Figure Out What Job to Do

Understanding what job you want to do in life can be an overwhelming task. It doesn’t matter how many career events you’ve attended or how many years of experience you have behind you, everyone is prone to bouts of worry.

When it comes down to making your decision, choosing a career that pays the bills but also keeps you happy is important.

While finding a job that ticks every box is unlikely, finding a role that you enjoy is essential to a successful career.

But firstly, how do you figure out what job to do?

Often, many people find themselves in a head spin over finding their “dream job.”

Whether it’s external pressures from friends, family or even yourself, the journey to settling in your chosen career can be a confusing path to navigate. That said, it’s important to have regular check-ins to remind yourself of your goals in life and where you would like to be.

Before starting your career search, ask yourself these three questions:

1. What subjects do I enjoy?
2. What matters to me the most in a workplace?
3. What am I good at and what are my technical strengths?

Once you have identified your core strengths and skills, it’ll eventually become easier to find a job that aligns with who you are.

If you’re unsure of where your skill set can be used, it’s a good idea to take a skills quiz to identify what transferrable skills you currently have.

Our free skills quiz will ask you key questions, such as the type of technology you’re comfortable working with, your interests and your acquired skills.

Whether you’re just starting out or not, you’ll gain an understanding of the types of roles available to you right now.

It could be that you have a brief understanding of Front-end development and DevOps. Identifying these key skills will open you up to many roles under Technology Solutions, one of our six career families.

Once you’ve explored your chosen career family, you can write a list of the jobs you’re most interested in as a starting point.

On average, we will spend 90,000 hours at work over our lifetime, which is equivalent to one-third of our life.

Additionally, 78% of people who work 30-50 hours a week spend more time with their co-workers than they do with their families. That said, it’s fair to say that choosing a job that you enjoy is incredibly important, ensuring you can continue to live a sustainable life.

Now that you’ve identified your key skills, the next step is to identify your values in the workplace. This helps to identify your personal boundaries and goals for the future, allowing you to increase the chances of finding the right job for you.

With that in mind, flexibility and career progression may be two non-negotiables for you in the workplace. Once you have identified the things that matter to you, it can help you identify the employers you want to work with.

Below are some values to consider:

• Diversity and inclusion • Development and progression • Transparency and respect • Leadership • Career progression

By now, you might have a clear understanding you want to do and, more importantly, the jobs you don’t want to do.

However, figuring out the right companies to approach is especially important. If you’re new to the sector, consider taking the time to understand the market and the different employers that are hiring for entry-level roles.

You can take advantage of the ‘Our Employers’ button on Tech Talent Engine here by reading their full employer profiles and filtering by location and career family.

For example, if you’re wanting to pursue a career in Digital Communications, below are some employers to check out:

Even if they’re not hiring right now, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the employers in the sector so you can take advantage of any future opportunities, such as careers fairs or professional networking groups.

You can be a complete beginner in the field but if you have the right connections, finding opportunities will become easier.

So, how does someone begin to build up a network?

Firstly, start small by informing your friends, family, and colleagues that you are looking for a job. Share your skills and interests and the type of jobs you’re looking for.

LinkedIn is a great way to expand your network and chat with like-minded professionals. However, make sure that your profile is updated to reflect your job status and take the time to connect with professionals in your industry.

It’s also a good idea to engage in discussions and groups to further push your name into people’s feeds.

Once you’ve connected with the right people, you’ll get exclusive information on when a job vacancy is live. To further increase your chances of your application being seen, you can reach out to the HR/ recruiting manager to express your interest in the role they are advertising.

If you’re still unsure what role you want to do exactly, consider reaching out to a few companies to ask about work experience opportunities or request to shadow someone for the day. This is a great opportunity to gain real-life experience and develop your network.

Searching for a job can be a time-consuming and exhaustive process.

If you are currently looking for a job but you’re struggling to find your feet, don’t worry. Every success story starts somewhere, so you’re never far from an opportunity.

Remember, job searching is a journey and patience is key to maintaining a positive mindset. Tech Talent Engine is here to support you throughout this.