Knowing your strengths, skills and interests is great for job searching. It’s something our employment agency encourages job seekers to keep in mind. As a job seeker, if you can identify what you are good at and what keeps you interested, you’ve completed a large portion of the work involved in the job search. Some people, however, struggle to find a job that meets their skill set and interests. Today, we’re sharing some of our tips for finding employment in a job at your skill level, ways you can enhance your skill set, and tips on how to find a job that interests you.
How do you know which job is right for you?
Before you dive into the waters of job searching, you may need to do a bit of soul searching. You as a job seeker need to ask yourself a series of questions surrounding careers and potential jobs. If you’ve ever heard people complain about their job, it’s likely because they haven’t put in the effort to find one that meets both their skill set and their interests.
First and foremost, before you start applying to jobs, you need to consider the skill set you currently possess. For anyone that has gone onto job searching websites or even looked at postings from an employment agency, you’ll know that there’s always a list of qualifications or skills necessary. Some will ask for a certain amount of experience in the workforce while others will ask for a specific level of education completed. Take a look through some of the opportunities that you may want to apply to. If you are missing some skill sets or qualifications you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Am I willing to re-educate myself to meet the educational requirements?
Let’s say you want to be a business director at a large company. If you don’t have a Master of Business Administration (or something similar), chances are you won’t be the candidate the interviewer selects. If you see yourself in this position in the future, you should ask yourself if you can, or are willing to go back to school and get the education level needed for a role like this in the future. In this case, the solution to developing your skill set it a bit of a long term goal, but you may also consider what your current skill set can get you in the same field. Which relates to our next point…
Can this job be a stepping-stone to the role I eventually want?
Sure, you may not be able to be a business director until you meet the educational requirements, but you can possibly learn about the administration of the business or work in a sales department as a first step while you complete requirements for a different role. This way, you’ll be a valued part of a particular company or organization, and you can work your way up to a level you want.
At our employment agency, we post jobs of various skill levels and qualifications. If you see a job that interests you, but may not be qualified for, you don’t have to throw in the towel! We encourage you to search for similar roles in the same industry or organization so you can build up to the role you want.
Can I complete any course/credit/certificate programs that allow me to meet requirements?
If there is a job role that is asking for specific training (like Red Cross/First Aid Training) and you don’t have that qualification, ask yourself if you are willing to go the extra mile and get the credit or course.
Courses, credits and certificates tend to be shorter than finishing a Masters, and some employers may offer to pay for a strong candidate to complete a course prior to a job’s start date or during the first few weeks of employment. If you see that jobs you are interested in tend to ask for the same qualification, it is a good idea to take the course/credit/certificate in advance. This way, your skill set will be polished and ready for any opportunities in the field.
Do I have any related skills that could apply to this role that aren’t necessarily listed?
Sometimes, a skill set may not be listed in a job description, but it could be considered valuable by an employer or an employment agency. For example, if you want a job in marketing, but only have experience running social media, your skill set can still be applied to the job. If you can see how your skill set can apply to the job you are after, you can make a case for yourself and show the employer your value in a way that they may not have considered before. Out of the box thinking and making connections between skill sets has led to many opportunities.
An employment agency can also look at your resume and see how your skills are applicable to other job roles. Just because you don’t necessarily fit the description of one job, doesn’t mean you can’t land a similar one with the skills you do have. An employment agency can help narrow down your search or give you recommendations on next steps.
Do I truly have an interest in this area?
It is one thing to be skillful at something on paper, but it is another thing to actually have an interest in the subject. For example, if math is your niche, but can’t fathom sitting in a corporate business crunching numbers all day, you may not want to apply to an office position.
When it comes to picking career opportunities, think about your skills in addition to your interests and overall happiness. For someone who is great at math but can’t see themselves at a desk all day, perhaps the teaching route is a better idea. To find out opportunities that meet your interests you need to think of each in terms of a pros and cons list. Think of what you’ll be doing if it will keep your interest all day. If you don’t think you will be content in a role because you find no connection to it, just don’t apply! The worst thing that can happen is that you miss out on one opportunity, but in the long run you save yourself from unhappiness and lack or motivation to fulfill your role.
Time to job shadow and get career advice
Another great way to find out if a job will keep your interest is to job shadow someone who is already in the position. This can involve a little bit of work and research on your part, but often times, your friends, family or neighbours may know someone who has the job you’re envisioning.
Get in touch with person and ask if they will let you job shadow so you can understand what “a day in the life of a ____”, is truly like. This type of opportunity can be a great eye-opener and will give you a more definitive answer in your job interests.
You can also use programs such as Career Cruising (an online career planning tool) or come into an Employment Agency like Task Force, where you can explore your strengths, interests and find jobs that fit your goals. Our agency not only provides you with job descriptions and opportunities, but we will work with you to discover who you are in the job market and what positions you are a strong candidate for. Task Force staff are experts in the Guelph job market and can help you find the best job opportunities the city has to offer.
How Task Force Can Help You
As an Employment Agency, we keep you in mind with our selections. We work with local companies and employers to bring job seekers a selection of opportunities in a diverse range of job fields. Feel free to browse through our employment agency boards on the Task Force site and submit a resume on a job posting. If you need a bit more direction and guidance on choosing jobs that are right for you, we’d love to help you out too. We can go through your resume, skills and interests to help you land a job that you’ll enjoy.
Call or email us today to get started! One of our staff members will help you on your way to employment.