Best Job Ever

Many people have unrealistic expectations about work and are dissatisfied with what they do

We have all heard this cliché before “find a job you like, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” In reality, it never really works that way. Work is termed “work” for a reason, and unfortunately many have unrealistic expectations on what it should be.
When people are asked to describe their dream job, you often hear them say things like “a job that doubles the money I make now” or “one that allows me a working day off every week.” Expectations like this are baseless. The concept of a luxury job is similar to winning the lottery, you have very tiny odds of realization.
While many want luxurious jobs, others will scamper to take any offer other than their present job. They are very unhappy with their jobs, though they claim to love the field they work in. A 2013 global survey confirmed this fact, it reports that 87 percent of employees were unsatisfied with their careers.
While there are many people unhappy with their work — the type of work they do is not the reason for the unhappiness. Rather things like salaries, coworkers, office politics, and bosses.
If this applies to you, try to change to a different position in your present company, or change your company while looking to maintain the same position. For instance, if you are a family man, but work duties require regular traveling, you should seek other positions within the company to keep you closer to your family.

To make a career change, you need to overcome your fears and decide what should be different

When you consider a career change, thoughts such as “you’ll definitely fail” or “you can’t do it” will likely come to your mind. So, how can you overcome these thoughts and have the career you desire?
These thoughts have an origin — fear. To make a successful career change, you need to overcome it. Fear is a natural reaction to unknown situations, and a career change is an uncertain undertaking.
You need to get your worries under control, start by making a list of your unknowns. This can include the fear that you may not find a new job quickly, or what it will look like working in a new company.
After listing the unknowns, write the reasons why they are scary; with an action sentence for each fear starting with the word “despite.” For instance, you may write, “I am afraid of changing careers, as I might spend the next few months without an income. Despite this financial risk, I can change careers because I have some savings.”
Writing out all your worries and how you will solve them will help you identify the legitimate and illegitimate fears and allow you to come up with an action plan.
After surmounting this hurdle, decide what your change will look like. This is vital, as many people tend to mistakenly bring about very drastic changes to their entire career when what is needed is a simple adjustment.
To avoid this mistake, consider how you can make your current job satisfying. Ask questions like “Do I like the place and my coworkers?” and “Am I being paid as well as others in my position?”
These questions will help you understand whether you should change company, departments or move to a different career altogether.

Develop a five-year plan for a career change to map your path and reduce your fears

At some point in life, many people try to effect changes, from stopping nail biting, to quitting alcohol — but fail to adhere to these plans. This does not mean change is impossible; instead, it requires a systematic combination of both short and long term thinking.
If you identify an area needing change, make plans both for the short and long term. Draw three columns with labeling: “One Year,” “Three Years” and “Five Years,” respectively. In the individual columns, write your ideal work situation for that period.
Fill the columns with details such as preferred job type, salary expectation, education or skills required and whether this position is in the sciences or not. Once you have this information drawn out, insert a timeline, start where you are and end where you would love to be.
This process will help you articulate your goals on paper and allow you to reduce fears you have about finding the ideal job. It will explain specific details you need to follow to attain your goals over the next five years, which is crucial in quelling all fears.
This process, for instance, will help you complete the training you need and thrust required to search for positions that satisfy you. You will be able to set smaller achievable goals that reduce your fear of a more significant change, thereby, empowering you to attain your target.

Your network can help you change careers, even if you are scared of meeting new people

Companies leverage on human and material resources to make wealth, you need to do the same. But, what’s your most valuable resource?
It is your family and friends.
Take an audit of your network and consider how they can help you attain your goals. While many believe this process to be self-centered and shallow, it is actually a great way to build relationships.
If you cultivate friendships with genuine goodwill, other benefits of networking will naturally come to you. These are the strategies involved.
After establishing contact at a meeting or party, ensure you get in touch with them at least thrice in a year. This could come as a simple email saying something reminded you of them.
By maintaining contact, it becomes easy to ask for a favor along the line. For instance, a medical doctor you met at a conference might know the CEO of a company you intend to work in.
The process of meeting new people is scary for some, if you are apprehensive about it, you should prepare beforehand. Prepare a practice question you can ask anybody, things like whether they have heard of your company or what their profession is like.
Once you set these questions in motion, and the other person replies, share something relevant about yourself — the goal here is not to seal a deal, instead to create a lasting impression through a brief conversation.
Always remember to follow up with an email or phone call that provides more details about you and your next meeting.

You should prepare for a career change and ensure it’s done in a carefully calculated manner

Have you seen some supermarkets offering an opportunity to try different foods before making a purchase? Great! The job market also offers such free samples.
There are many ways to decipher what a job really entails, and this information is vital in making informed decisions about your career or employment prospects. If you are considering changing a position within the same company, for instance, you might put in a request to work one day per week in the new post on a trial basis.
When it is a position outside your organization, many hiring companies offer potential hires the opportunity to try out the job for a few weeks to determine if they are a good fit. You can also take a second job, enroll for training in a field that interests you and discuss your career options with as many people as possible.
Before you start your career change journey, arm yourself with the right tools. Have in place a financial contingency plan in case things turn awry. Calculate what you need for the estimated transition period and be sure to save a little more for contingencies.
Additionally, prepare yourself mentally, as your career change may not be as easy at first and also considering changes are not always easy at first — don’t worry, it gets easy with time.
Consider the author of this book, who prepared meticulously for his doctoral thesis and was raring to go, only to find out it needed a lot more work. He kept himself focused, instead of freaking out, he believed in his abilities and worked on his thesis until it was complete.
As you embark on this life-changing journey, plan meticulously and stick to it.

Conclusion

If you desire a different job, join a new company or switch to a different industry, take stock of what you want from a career change, and plan meticulously to attain your goal. A full understanding of yourself and being realistic of your chances is crucial to this life-changing process.
Try this:
Define your strengths. If you desire a new job but not sure what it is, consider your strengths and how applicable it is to different fields. List all the things you are good at and the companies or industries that need these skills.

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