- Wise Words -
There's wealth. Then there's Wellth.
How to find a job that is good for you
by Cara de Lange
You are looking for a job. You may have finished or are about to finish your studies. You may also have lost your job and are taking a step back and considering what your next move should be. You may also be wondering how you find the right job; one that meets your career goals but also that is good for your wellbeing.
If you are in this position, my goal writing this column is to help you; I will set out the steps to take so that you can start, or re-start, your career with the right balance for you. The first step is to think backwards. What kind of life would you like to live, do you want to be working all hours, have a flexible job or something in between where you work hard but also get to enjoy your out of work life? We all have different ways we like to work and live, so think about how that may look like for you. The key piece is to be realistic about your expectations when you’re looking for a job that will be good for you so keep in mind the following:
It’s important to identify early how to find the right balance for you. One way you could approach this is by making a list of:
As you run through this exercise, make sure you know yourself well. For example, think what your triggers are when it comes to well being: deadlines, last-minute requests, a micro-manager, lack of certainty? Which are the conditions that push your buttons and make you feel uncomfortable? Also know that if you are looking to find the ideal balance, it could mean that you are going to earn a lower salary than your friends from University. Again, this is ok, but bear in mind that you will be making trade offs. You should also be aware of what contributes to you having good mental health. For example, you might need to make it to your favorite sports class every week without fault, or be home before 7pm so you can spend time with your partner or friends. Or you might not want to undertake any business travel. Whatever it is, make sure you’ve identified these points so you can think of how to add them into your work life. All of these points should help you create a much clearer idea of what you’re looking for in a job and also help you set boundaries when you get it. If you are on the hunt for a new job make sure that you check out the company extensively beforehand. Check sites like glass door or job crowd to find out more and of course the companies website, wellbeing, inclusion or benefits pages as well as linked in pages. Do they share employee stories and give you insight into what it’s like to work there? Do they showcase fun activities and diverse policies that will make it an enjoyable workplace? These are all good clues. Secondly make sure that you check the job description in detail and watch out for red flags like these:
Finally the interview! Ask good questions during your interview to determine if it’s a fit. If flexible working hours are important to you and it wasn’t mentioned in the job description, now is the time to ask. The same goes for team set-up and the manager’s approach to work, to find out whether the team might be understaffed, if there’s a tendency for micro-management, or other ways of working that are important to know about. So, if you want to find a role where there is a balance and the opportunity to enjoy both the work and your life, I hope that this column provides ideas for how to achieve this. === Related columns: "Finding Your Fit", "An Answer to the Career Equation", "Professionally Overwhelmed? Try a Mental Refresh", "Relax and Enjoy Your Career Journey". 
Cara de Lange is an international burnout expert, speaker, and founder of Softer Success, empowering some of the world’s leading organisations and their employees to proactively prevent burnout.
Cara’s powerful techniques and tips, based on her studies, research and experimentation, are transforming the lives of thousands of people. Cara is an associate of and works closely with the International Stress Management Association (ISMA). Cara's book, Softer Success. Prevent Burnout, Find Balance and Redefine Success is available from Amazon and all good book stores...
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