You’ll be surprised to know that 99% of people choose the wrong career path. And it’s not rocket science to understand why they pick the wrong career. Most young adults are unaware of what they are good at, so they never get a chance to pursue their true calling.

They also don’t know how to find the right job. More often than not, people seek career guidance from their elders – parents or older siblings – who can be biased in their suggestions. They may encourage them to get a job in a certain industry because it pays the most, or they may pressurize them to opt for a career as it’s a family tradition or prestige.

The worst part is that people don’t even realize the importance of choosing the right job. People that are stuck in the wrong career are less happy and satisfied than the ones who are following their dreams and passion. The former is also seen as less interested and pleased with their job, and hearing from them, “I don’t want to work” is utterly common. This attitude is detrimental to their professional growth and development, and thus they fail to enjoy both personal and professional fulfillment.

If you are looking for your first job or want to switch your career – remember, it’s never too late to change your career path – make sure you chase what your heart truly desires (refer to our aforementioned reasons why). But if you’re not sure exactly what your right job fit is, our guide will help you in finding that out. Here you will find amazing tips that will enable you to discover the right vocation and a meaningful life.

1.     Critical Evaluation

Did you just quit your job because you were not 100% happy with it? If that’s the case, you should try to figure out why you did what you did. It’s possible that you left the job because you didn’t like it. But it’s also likely that you loved the job, but you were not happy with other things such as a poor work environment, unfriendly co-workers, etc. Another scenario could be that you equally hated the job and the company culture.

Critically assessing yourself and your situation will help you understand what you really look into and expect from your next job, and this will assist you in your job hunt. Other than these factors, you should also re-evaluate your skills and achievements. If you are looking for a job for the first time, you may think your education and the skills you gained as a student are all you have to determine what is suitable for you. But you should give this a serious thought – do I really want to pursue a career in my field? Sure, you may be a gold medalist, but your heart may lie somewhere else.

When evaluating yourself, you should ask yourself these questions:

• What are my strengths, weaknesses, and areas I would like to work on?
• What have been my biggest accomplishments – academic and professional?
• What do I wish to pursue?
• What kind of jobs are not for me, and why is that so?
• What kind of jobs will make me one-hundred percent happy and satisfied?

2.     Do Your Research

Before you start sending out your resumes, it is important to do thorough market research. Having industry knowledge plays a critical role in making the right decision. You need to see what kind of sector/industry will better reciprocate to your potentials, abilities, skills, experiences, and your aims and goals, of course.

If you have finally found the field you want to work in, you will need to study it online. See the top organizations of the industry you are interested in. Check out their websites and see what skills and experiences they look for in their potential employees. It’s possible that you may like the idea of working at a firm, but after a critical analysis – through assessing its website and reaching out to its current or previous employees – you realize that the company may not be right for you. Keep searching until you find your grant.

Plus, the more you do your research and learn about a particular job position or an organization, the more you understand what ticks you. Another great benefit of doing research is that you learn what jobs are in demand, what jobs pay well, what sectors are undervalued, what popular organizations are in your state, what new, emerging industries in your state are, what sectors take the biggest hit during an economic crisis, etc. Having well-rounded knowledge about the current job/industry market in your city or country will assist you a lot in your job search; and based on the attained information, you will be able to make a wise career decision.

3.     Find Someone Who Can Help You in Your Job Search

Did you know that several employment agencies help people in finding a job? If your solo job search has come to no fruition, don’t be disheartened. You can hire a reliable and experienced staffing agency to do the job for you. However, finding the right recruiting agency can be a hit or miss.

Here are a few factors that you should consider when finding a trustworthy employment agency:

·        Interview them Before Hiring Them

Once you have shortlisted recruiting agencies that you may want to take the assistance of, you should have a one-to-one interview with them.

Before you interview them, make sure you have gone through their work portfolio, website, or LinkedIn profile, so that you can ask relevant questions.

You should always ask questions that may be on your mind, and you think will help resolve your dilemma such as “do you have any other clients?”, “Are you helping them find work in the same field as me?” “How long will it take for you to find me a job?” etc.

·        Ask About Terms and Conditions

It’s also important to be sure of terms and conditions in advance. Some recruiters only ask for their commission when their clients get the job, while others may charge for the time and effort they put in daily for finding a job for their clients. It’s important to know about these details beforehand to avoid any unwanted surprises.

·        Be Explicit About Your Preferences

Agency recruiters are mostly salespeople, so they don’t mind listening to your specifications and search for a job position or employment accordingly. Please note that not all recruitment agencies cover every job or industry. They may have a list of particular sectors that they typically deal with.

It will be wise of you to discuss your requirements in detail with them. Doing so will be beneficial in two ways. First, it will help narrow their search and get you an ideal job. Secondly, if the agency does not work with the industry you’re interested in, they will inform you right away. So, discussing your preferences with them always leads to a win-win situation.

·        Ask for Recommendations

If you don’t want to put up with the hassle of finding an employment agency and interviewing them, you can always ask for recommendations from people you trust. Ask your friends, ex-colleagues, siblings, or anyone you know that may have had found a job through an agency. This will save a lot of your time and energy – especially if you are short on time and need a good job as soon as possible.

4.     Network the Right Way

You will be shocked to learn that 70% – 80% of people find jobs through networking or by “knowing someone.” Note that some industries are conducive to networking, such as sales or marketing industries, so finding a job (through networking) in these sectors is as easy as it gets.

There are plenty of organizations that consider internal hiring or give preference to resumes of candidates recommended by their current employees. Considering these two factors, it won’t be surprising anymore if you never find out about a job opening in an organization you may want to work at. This is why it is crucial to make the right connections with the right people.

Here are a few ways to network the correct way:

·        Make Sure You Go to Networking Events

There is no better place to network than events. How to find networking events near you? Google it! If you want to attend an event of a specific organization or any event that will help you get a lucrative job, Google can come in handy.

Make sure you follow the dress code and reach there at the right time so that you don’t miss out on your chance to connect with as many people as you want. Don’t forget to ask for their business cards so that you can reach out to them later.

·        LinkedIn Can Be Your Ally

LinkedIn is the perfect social media platform to connect with the right professionals. This digital podium can help you reach out to people you met at networking events or through your co-workers or friends. You can shoot them a quick, short message, ensuring you give out details for why you’re contacting them and how you know them or found out about them.

LinkedIn can also be a way to connect with industry people you may not know professionally/personally but wish to work for. Obviously, you can’t send a direct message to them. You are totally a stranger to them, and they will most likely ignore you. However, one way to get their attention is by liking and commenting on their social media posts. Make sure the comments you give are decent and professional.

Also, many companies put job posting on LinkedIn so you can learn about a job posting from there and apply for your dream job right away!

·        Follow Up and Expand Your Network

If you meet one person, make sure you meet two more. You never know which person can help you get a job you always wanted. So, it’s always great to gel up with as many people as you can. Once you have made the right connections, you will need to maintain the rapport.

One great way to strengthen your relationship with the right people is by following up one way or the other. For instance, if you have read an article that talks about the discussion you had with them. Save it and send it to them. This will give you an opportunity to stay connected with them and build a meaningful relationship.

Always be cordial and respectful with people you make connections with. If they help you in some way – provide you with some information or introduce you to an important person – always thank them for their help.

Conclusion

Stop scratching your head and looking for a step in the right direction! Just follow these few proven tips to find the right job. When followed correctly, these steps can help light up your path and take you to your highly-anticipated destination.

Keep in mind that the process of finding an ideal job can be slow and trying. So, don’t lose hope and give your best always. No matter how many times you get turned down for a job or despite how many times you are said: “you are not the right fit for this job position this time,” if you have found your true calling, then keep working hard. You will ultimately find a job that is perfect for you!