So you want a new job. Before you start reading ads, assess how your career is going and what you're looking for. What have you done well? Where did you find the most satisfaction? Why? What made it fun? Was it what you were doing, where you were doing it, or those you worked with?
Equally important, what makes you want to leave?
List the top 10 things that would make you happy in a new job. Consider:
Being successful. Ask yourself, "Is this a job I know I will do well?"
Being in the right place. What are your values, and how does your potential employer match those values? What kind of city do you like? Do you need entertainment, theater, shopping and restaurants nearby? How about a university to continue your education? How far will you have to go to see friends or family? Should you limit your geography based on family, friends, cost of living, climate, culture?
Being in the right job. Know what's flexible for you in a new job, and what's not. Would you be willing to work nights? Can you deal with a long commute? Do you have your heart set on covering a certain beat? How much supervision and direction do you want and need?
Being able to pay the bills. How does your current compensation compare to your expenses? Think about rent, a mortgage, car payments, insurance, travel, food, dry cleaning, entertainment and clothing. What will it take to maintain your current standard of living in another location? Realize that compensation is based on what you made in the past, the value you bring to the new job, how you compare to others doing similar work and the company's ability to pay you.
Being secure. Keep your health insurance and other benefits in mind. Be sure you can afford COBRA, which extends your existing health coverage until you are covered by a new policy. New employees usually must wait until after a probationary period to enroll in a benefits program, but health issues often don't wait.
Being motivated. You are your own wake-up call. Think about what made you happy in your prior job and what made you want to look elsewhere. What makes you look forward to going to work each day? How will a new position enhance what you loved about past jobs and minimize the things that drained your motivation?
Being yourself. Take a careful inventory of what you bring to a company: your skills, accomplishments, likes, dislikes, areas for improvement and the values you hold dear.
By thinking about these issues now, you can better ensure that your new job will be more fulfilling.
Next week: Fit the candidate to the job rather than the other way around.
