How to Figure Out What Type of Job You Really Want
By: Aamir Qutub
Tags: Career Change, Careers, Job Hunting, Jobs

Are you considering a job change, but you keep putting it off for one reason or another? Most often, it’s our lack of clear ideas for a job or career change that keeps us trapped in our current situation.

What we’re really lacking is the ability to think differently about what’s possible for us.

So, how do you figure out what kind of job/work you want to pursue? How do you figure out what would bring you true enjoyment in what you do every day? Well, in my opinion, it’s not so much of a process of “figuring it out” as a process of getting in touch with and truly listening to ourselves (perhaps for the first time).

To “figure something out” tends to imply a mental or logic-based approach. And perhaps this is why so many of us end up in jobs we dislike. We were leaning too much on our mind’s logical arguments and “shoulds.”

To find what work lights us up, we need a different approach: who we are, what we like and don’t like, what we truly desire is front and center and comes before opinions of the mind.

If you feel stuck, trapped, or unable to think of anything at all that might serve you in finding a new job or career, here are some tips to help you think differently about potential and practicality that could stir up a whole host of new ideas for you.

Answer these questions:

What is it that you DON’T want to do?

Oftentimes, identifying what we don’t want can shine a light on what we do want, simply by considering the opposite. For example, if you absolutely hate the commute, working closer to home or at home might be preferable.

Make a list of those things you DON’T want to do. It’ll make it easier for you to identify things you DO want to do. While listing out those parts, do consider the pros and cons of the said things. This is one of the crucial element which can aid you in the job search.

Do you hate conforming to rules and regulations?

Maybe something that would allow you to work under your own initiative with your own ideas would be ideal. Like writing, for example. Everyone has different career paths that they like to work on, and it’s easy to work in a job that you enjoy.

If you hate rules and limitations, it’s good to search for a job where you can work with your own rules. Try to look out for full time or part-time jobs that can help you to identify if the career or job is a good fit for you.

Are you putting yourself under pressure to conform to someone else’s perceived impression of you?

For example, do you have thoughts like these:

I should have a professional position. I must have at least this much as a salary because of my background. I should have a title that other people will respect and admire me for.

Deep in your heart, maybe you really want to build dry stone walls with your bare hands, on your own, out on the ranch. Stop thinking about other’s opinions about you. Conformity Influence Behavior will only burden you with unhappiness in the long term. This could also be toxic to your mental health and career.

● Check your feelings to see whose rules you are actually following.

You will never be happy unless you follow your own idea of what makes your heart sing. Are you really prepared to let others dictate how you should spend your life and make a living?

What if anything was possible? What would you do with your time?

If you had no limitation in life, what would you do? Try thinking without restraint or limitation. What would you do if absolutely anything were possible?

Would you travel? Would you build something? Would you create? Would you buy and sell? Where would you go? Who would you go with? How much time would you spend there? How much money would you make?

When you answer these questions, you’ll find out that you could have done an endless amount of things in your life and career.

What would you be like if you reinvented yourself completely? If you could turn the clock back and unload all the junk that you’ve collected in your mind and heart so far in your life? If you could eliminate all the mistakes, errors of judgment, and wasted time of the past?

Where would you be, and what would you be doing? Who would you be doing it with? Where would you be doing it and why?

● What if you seized some of the opportunities you’ve turned down and refused some of the opportunities you’ve taken?

What would your life be like now? Where would you be? Who would you be with? What would you be doing? How does that feel?

● What would this brand new ‘you’ look like?

What kind of work would you be engaged in? How much money might you be making? How much joy would you have in your life? Where would you live? Why there? Is this new you inspiring?

What if your new career wasn’t grandiose, world-class, or life-changing for anyone else?

Would that matter? What if it was modest, relatively inconspicuous, but incredibly important to your heart and soul?

Just because some ideas are bigger, it doesn’t automatically make them better. What you are searching for here is a perfect fit for you, not for someone else.

What if you could identify what you really want today? Would you get started? Begin exploring? Begin making that transition from where you are right now to where you really want to be?

Your life is waiting. Time to get busy!