Finding a niche for your own needs

When looking for a job, we tend to focus on pleasing the employer. Although this is a very good attitude, and as important as it is, it fails to satisfy the equally important element which will inevitably be an issue sooner or later: pleasing yourself. The right job is not just about matching your professional qualifications with an employer.

Some things you should consider include location, hours, and salary range. There are many other variables that contribute to suitability or compatibility. Picture yourself in your ideal work environment and ask yourself a few questions such as: in your ideal job vision, are you in an office? Or are you in your car most of the day? How much time do you spend on the phone? Are you working from home? Is there a large group of people around you or is it a quiet place with your office door closed? Are you supervising several people or just taking instructions from one particular person? Are you sitting down for the most part, at a desk? Or are you moving around a lot? What are you wearing? What time are you arriving at work? How late are you there? What are you physically doing? Are you actively involved in community events with your company? Do you support a specific charity? Do you and your coworkers regularly participate in events together? These are just a few questions as part of a greater exercise. But these are all things that factor in to your overall compatibility with your company or industry. They are often overlooked, yet tend to be key contributors to unhappiness at work. Workplace content sometimes has nothing to do with the job itself but more to do with the conditions of work or the environment.

Giving serious consideration to these factors before starting your job hunt will help set you on the track to happiness and personal satisfaction in the workplace. Do not overlook the importance of your own needs. You owe it to yourself, your employer, and your family to be happy and content in your job.