Too many people get trapped in jobs they hate for the simple fact that they need to pay bills and support themselves. Often, the thing people love the most is one of the career paths most difficult to get into, leading people to take easier, mundane jobs simply to get by.
It shouldn’t be that way, however. Fulfillment in a career, as in any aspect of life, is imperative.
Here are a few start points to consider when looking to find the perfect career for you.
Turn a Beloved Hobby into a Job
Perhaps you have a passion and favorite pastime, but you’ve often told yourself that it isn’t a viable career, or just too risky for a stable income. Most of the time, however, it’s the risks which take you out of your comfort zone and down a path which is scary for all the right reasons.
Depending on the hobby, never discount the opportunity of it being made into a business – even if this means only a side-business and extra income at first. Knowing you are doing something you care about even just part-time can mean you have a more positive mental state about another job you may have previously resented.
For example, perhaps you have a workshop and enjoy restoring furniture or building things. You may have told yourself it isn’t a stable career, and maybe you even think nobody will take it seriously – but if you do, the other people will, too. People can’t deny the importance of work like carpentry, and reputable insurance firms offer carpenter insurance to alleviate any worries you might have at the start.
Only by aiming for a job you will enjoy can you find meaning.
Outline Your Values
The only way to find a career which will make you happy is to ensure that it doesn’t compromise any of your values and the aspects of your life which are important to you. If you want a career which enables flexible working hours and doesn’t prevent you from still having quality time with your loved ones, then ensure that you’re not getting yourself into jobs which completely go against that.
If you write down the values important to you, this can help you better analyze how your current working pattern is either counter-productive or beneficial. This can lead to a better understanding and appreciation of certain career choices.
Understand Your Reasons
If your sole goal is to make as much money as possible, and you are miserable in a job that has low pay, then you need to understand what you need to do to make more money. Likewise, if you are stuck in a job which pays really well but means you are hardly ever at home with your family, consider a job with fewer hours and money, but with more free time to ensure your fulfillment.
Getting to grips with what a job truly means to you results in you knowing better the type of job which can fulfill your needs.