Finding your ideal job

Photo credit: Urbanite

Quit daydreaming about your ideal job and start doing some soul-searching.

By Lonni Romirowsky

Special to amNewYork

Whether you’re looking for work, or trying to get out of a job you hate, there’s hope on the horizon.

Before applying for jobs, consider what your ideal career would look like. Career consultant and radio host Maggie Mistal said you need to do a bit of soul searching before you can start looking forward to Mondays.

Here are some tips for finding the right fit.

Passions

Make a list of your passions, both professionally and personally. Do you enjoy communicating with others? Working with children? Playing sports? Try to narrow your list down to your top five out-of-office passions.

Talents

While passions play a vital role in choosing a profession, it is important to realistically consider your talents, specifically those you enjoy. Perhaps you are a strong writer, or public speaking comes naturally. It is important to distinguish the strengths you wish to use in your career.Motivators

Next, make a list of the issues and ideals most dear to you, such as helping children in need. Your “ideal” career will be much more meaningful and enjoyable if you are both utilizing your talents and participating in something fulfilling.

Work environment

Try to think beyond the stereotypical work setting, and consider the working environment you would most enjoy. Do you prefer working in small groups or alone? Does travel play an important role in your routine? Take time to set your own parameters.

Salary

When choosing a career, it is important to evaluate the type of lifestyle you envision. Your desired annual income and benefits play a large role in determining which fields match with your ideal career.

Project how much money you anticipate receiving each month, then subtract the purchases you will make every month, such as electric bills and rent. The amount remaining is your discretionary fund. Consider how much discretionary money you’ll need for the lifestyle you envision.

Now, think of a few careers that align with your interests and strengths.

According to Mistal, “one of the best and most underutilized career research tools is the informational interview.” Find people in the industry who can give you insight.

Find out the training and education needed, salary range and job outlook for your potential jobs.

The last step is creating an action plan with a timeline. Set dates for completing research, conducting informational interviews or applying for jobs. By this point, you should have a strong sense of your direction and where you’ll be happiest professionally.

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