3 Ways To Ensure You Aren't Settling For Any Old Job

Life is too short to be settling for any old job but that’s exactly what many people have already done! A job is something you should take pride in and actually enjoy doing. We spend almost half our life working so finding something meaningful in the workplace is important for our overall well being. The last thing that you should do is make it all about money. Money may drive a lot of things, but it shouldn’t be the only factor that’s controlling your job (and your happiness in that job). You should be controlling your job, and you should be in charge of your future in terms of what you are going to do for the rest of your life. Check out these tips so you don't just settle for "a" job - but you find "THE" job you really want! ​

Something Challenging
If you aren’t being challenged in your job, then you’re going to have that annoying feeling every single day of wondering why you’re in the job. You need to be mentally stimulated in what you do in order to stay focused on the task at hand. So, if all you’re doing is sitting behind a computer, but you like to be doing something hands on, then it would make sense that you’re bored by the middle of the day!  If your boss is not giving you challenges, you can seek them out. Consider attending open meetings and seeing if there are project teams you can join,  Ask HR for opportunities within the company for learning additional skills. And if you have not done so, tell your boss you want to take on more! Bosses are not mind readers so sometimes you have to be direct to let them know how you would like to help out. 

Something Worthwhile
A Job is "worth your while" when it fits your skill set and your personal needs.  That kind of job can come in many forms. It can mean that you have flexibility in your hours so you can tend to personal needs.  It may mean that the job offers tuition reimbursement so you can complete your degree.  It may mean there is childcare in the office. It may be as simple as being located close to home.  A worthwhile job will also pay you at least the going market rate for your education and skill set.   Each person will have a unique set of circumstances that may make a job really desirable but If a job isn’t going to be worthwhile for you, then is there any point in doing it. If you check out this recruitment blog, you’ll find several options that employers will have available to employees and what employers need you to have so you can evaluate if it may be a good fit.

Something Progressive
Being worthwhile and progressive sort of go hand in hand. If there’s no room for progression (read upward mobility to higher levels in the organization) in your job, which rings true with more companies than you would expect, then you’re never going to have options to move up or expand your skill set  It is important to find out early in a job what options you have for growth in your skills or scope of responsibility and whether you may get to grow to managing a team or a department.  Without these kinds of options, you may find it hard to make more money,  learn new things, and really enjoy your job!