How to start job searching when you don’t know how to start.
Starting to search for a new job is a daunting task, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Many times people come to career coaching knowing that they’re dissatisfied with their current situation, but they are stumped about where to go next.
They often ask me: “What job do you think I should apply for?” Though I might have some ideas, this is a question that nobody can answer for you for a few reasons: First, you will always know yourself best, and second, the job market is so vast and ever-changing that the possibilities are endless!
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to start narrowing down your job search:
Assess your current role (or previous roles). Consider your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and the skills required for your position. If you’re dissatisfied with what your actual job requires, then looking for a completely different role or industry is what you need to do.
Evaluate your current company. How do your boss, team, work-life balance, compensation, and company culture all affect your job satisfaction? If it’s something outside of your actual job role causing the problem, then a similar job at a different company may be the right move for you.
Imagine your dream job. Taking the time to describe and write down the job description for your dream role can help you better articulate what you are looking for (even if it's a made-up job that doesn't exist, like "Career Coach on the Moon"—it gives you a place to start thinking about why you want that role). Don’t get caught up on what you’re “qualified” for or what skills you have, but focus on what you want to do. You can always increase your skills and qualifications to fit that, once you know what it is. What would you do for free? What could you do for the rest of your life and be happy? How does it compare to what you’re currently doing and what you’re looking for?
Start searching! Sometimes you need to just start searching and seeing what’s out there. Write down what you like and don’t like about jobs you see posted and make a list of job titles that start to fit what you’re looking for. Learning the lingo is so important to distinguish between what jobs say and what the words mean. You will have to figure out what you are looking for and how it would be described in the lingo of a job posting in that industry.
Leverage your network. Start to ask your friends, family, and professional connections what jobs they know that fit the qualities you’re interested in (however short your current list is!) See if they have any roles at their company or in their industry that might match up, then add any new insights or job titles to your lists. Asking them to connect you with someone hiring at their company is a bonus!
Talk to your boss. Depending on your current job situation and manager, consider talking with your boss. Expressing to them what you’re dissatisfied with in your current role could lead to some solutions in the short term. If they have the heart of a mentor, then tell them what you’re hoping for in a job instead; they might have some ideas for what you could look for next and they might be able to help find a better role for you within your company.
BONUS: Get a coach! While you don’t need a coach to make a career transition, it can certainly help make the process much smoother, more enjoyable, and even quicker! If you feel stuck with any of these points of exploration, or if you’d like help figuring out your options, check out my coaching programs or schedule a free consultation to see if coaching is a good fit for you.
