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How to find out if the job is right for you

This post was first published on my blog:
“How to find out if the job is right for you” by pandaquests https://link.medium.com/gV5Lh0ocv6

I worked in different industries — from academia to agency to IT security to health industry — and made a career change from a mechanical engineer to a software engineer. Now, I have finally found my dream job I’m passionate about. I think, I have some authority when it comes to finding the right job for me. Here’s a list that can help you determine if your current job or industry is right for you:

1. Are you looking forward to Mondays?

According to a Gallup survey, about 71% of people are not interested in their job and about 19% of those surveyed really hate their job. Only about 10% love their job. If you’re one of the 10%, then you’re looking forward to your job — even if it’s Monday and you’ve just had a great weekend.

2. Do you still have energy when you come home after work?

When you come home after work, do you feel exhausted and just want to sit in front of the TV with a beer or do you still have energy to keep yourself busy with your work outside of work hours?

3. Do you feel like you have something to learn and grow at work?

Are you interested in the topics at your work or do you feel underchallenged? Do you think that you learn something at work, grow and develop?

4. Can you apply what you do at work to your personal life?

Is what you do at work useful in your personal life? Can you use the skills you have developed at work to help your friends, family or yourself?

5. Do you want to develop with the company and the industry?

The company or industry is developing in one direction. Are you looking forward to embracing new changes together with them or are you rather longing for the way it used to be?

6. Do you identify with the company?

Do you have the feeling that you recognize yourself in the company? Do the values that are lived in the company correspond to your values?

7. Do you have a true sense of purpose?

Do you believe that your work is of benefit to others, to society or to the world? Or do you rather have the feeling that what you are working on is useless and meaningless?

8. Are you proud to tell others where you work?

Do your eyes light up when you talk about the job, company or industry you work in? Or shy away about telling others what exactly you are doing?

9. Did you do as a child what you are doing now?

If you recall what activities you did as a child that you enjoy, do you do these things at your work as well?

10. Would you do the job even if you did not get any money for it?

Imagine you are not dependent on money and would therefore not be dependent on any job, would you still want to do the same job that you are doing in your current job?

If you have answered “yes” to most of the questions, then you have found a job that you are passionate about and in which you will most likely excel.

Do you agree with my list? Leave your thoughts down below and let me know. What are indicators exist to know whether the current job is the right one for you?

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