How to get the job you want #2
Opportunity hunting Lesson — 2: Identify your ‘decision criteria’ .
So, friends. We’ve begun the exploration. We’ve cast our net wide and oh my, the options! The next major hurdle with the modern job-hunt is paralysis of choice.
Being unable to make a decision about the next steps, for better or for worse is like being in a loveless relationship but never moving out. You think you’re better off where you are, but you’re not.
“You’ve been fantastic, definitely the best recruitment agent I’ve worked with…job or no job.” — job seeker.
Feeling overwhelmed by options or even barred by lack of skill (or an excess) can often leave us indecisive and therefore paralysed into inaction.
In my experience, this leads to two behavioural outcomes when job hunting:
a. ‘Spray and Pray’ — quality control and logic are gone. Every opportunity becomes a target. Including roles that are similar to the one you are looking to leave and ones that are wildly divergent from your true vision for yourself. You aim beneath you as a comfort, rather than above you where you belong.
Likely result: rejection and loss of confidence. Or, you accept a random job offer and end back up where you started in a position that still might not speak to you.
b. Sustained Inaction — another year on the fence. Another year waiting for the ‘right move’, doing mental marathons and thinking your way to every possible outcome. Part of the paralysis problem is caused by trying to find ‘the one’ and wanting to force that one role to fulfil your every requirement.
Likely result: no movement, no progress.
The solution?
Make your own decision criteria.
Decision criteria, in this sense means placing focus on one slice of the pie; a segment of your aspirations in which you have equal interest and there is equal opportunity. You can scale upwards from here, chop and change your criteria or place different emphasis on them if you need. But focusing on one area first will release the indecision and help you commit to testing one path. Life is not linear and neither is your career.
You can identify your criteria firstly by uncovering your core work values and actions. And to discover these, I find it helpful to answer questions such as the below, writing down any key words that come to mind.
- What is it about my current role that I enjoy?
- What would I change about my day-to-day that would make me happier/more fulfilled?
- What have I succeeded at that I would not like to do again?
- What working environment do I thrive in?
- Do I love the industry I am in? If not, what industry do I aspire to work in?
- Who do I aspire to be like and what skill set or experience do they have that I envy?
- What factors are missing from my life at work at this current time that are deal-breakers?
- What is one achievement I’ve made over the last year that I am super proud of and why?
- What do I want to achieve in the next 3–5 years and what steps do I need to take to ensure I reach them?
and finally…
…why, why why? — ask yourself why three times for each of the answers you gave above and you’ll understand why these things are important to you. In this way you empower yourself to say a ‘wise no’ or a ‘wise yes’ to people and experiences that come your way.
Tip: The results from this idea-dump can then form a solid ground for decision making. And, decision making is the catalyst for action, which in turn, then delivers feedback. The feedback drives momentum, informing better choices moving forward.
For instance, once you know you value flexibility, working with vulnerable communities, autonomy and learning opportunities you can begin to size up roles you like the look of within a your personal work vertical and you can happily discard any that do not match these expectations. Why, why why? Because you’re worth it. Because this is what it takes to know what you want.
If you value the above, you might want to look at opportunities in exotic locations, B-corps, teach grass roots entrepreneurs with programmes such as _SocialStarters, researching fellowship programmes such as Year Here, Athemis, On Purpose, or looking at becoming a country launcher for a unique social organisation such as Pollinate Energy.
Tool: Write out a statement that starts with ‘In my next opportunity, to fulfil my desires and needs, the following statements need to be true…’ and make a list of 4 or 5 criteria in priority order and practice discarding and applying for roles based on this knowledge. It serves to narrow the playing field and make the job market work for you rather than have you scrambling to fit the job market.
Define for yourself what type of elements, industry, or organisation would best suit your needs and values. Use it as a checklist to orientate your search. Be bold and take action…write it down, check em off and keep going. Never settle.
The job is not there waiting for you.
The world is.
