Why can’t I find a job I like?

By Michelle Schafer, Ottawa-based career coach and the author of Cultivating Career Growth: Navigate Career Transitions with Purpose

As told to Srivindhya Kolluru.

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From our sponsor

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Here’s the answer to this week’s reader question.

I just want to make money, but I can’t find work that suits me.

—Stef

How to find a job and a career that you actually like

The first thing I’d encourage you to do is give yourself permission to pause and reflect. There could be a number of things going on underneath the surface, but you can’t intentionally seek out new work unless you figure out what’s important to you.

Quite honestly, our careers often just go with the flow: We move from one job to the next, we take the promotion, we go for the role in front of us. Often, that’s not because we’ve done any assessment to see if the job’s a good fit. To help you find work that suits you, here are some questions I’d sit with and reflect on.

What drives you?

What work gives you energy? What work really fires you up, if you’re honest with yourself? What work drains your energy? What work do you do really well but it actually drains you emotionally and physically?

Those answers are important because you’ll never find work that suits you unless you know what lights you up.

Where should you work?

What environment will allow you to create your best work? Think about everything from the mandate and values of an organization to the type of leader and coworkers you team best with.

Be specific. Describe what that environment would look like and feel like. Make note of how people act, behave and interact with each other. If you’re working for an organization that doesn’t share your beliefs, you’re not going to feel fulfilled in your career.

How can you contribute?

What are your transferable skills?

Take stock of the skills that are sought after, valued and needed in other roles, sectors and industries. Know that client service, writing reports, doing research, building relationships and leading projects are all transferable skills. Understanding what you bring with you can open up opportunities you may not have considered before.

What are your boundaries?

What are your non-negotiables at this stage of your career? What is so important to you right now that you might walk away from a role if it wasn’t there?

Your priorities change throughout your career, so it’s important to be clear about your deal breakers as you go.

What to do with the answers

Once you’ve reflected on those questions, map out your answers against any opportunities to see what’s aligned. Instead of using a spray-and-pray approach by sending out large numbers of generic job applications—which is what a lot of job seekers end up doing—intentionally seek out job postings that feature what’s actually important to you.

The next steps

Build yourself a plan. Without a plan, it’s like being blindfolded, standing in front of a dartboard and throwing darts. You’re going to miss the mark more times than you hit it.

Your plan should have three parts. One, find job postings; two, connect with recruiters; and three, network.

First, search online in the right places, including job boards, company websites and specialized sites. Google Jobs is a popular online job site, even more than LinkedIn right now. Sometimes, jobs aren’t even listed on job boards, so make a list of the companies and places you’re going to check and set up alerts.

Second, connect with recruiters and search firms. Find out what positions they are hiring for. Reach out and build relationships.

Third, is what I call “research through conversation.” Don’t try to find a job on your own. Talk to your family, friends, and friends of friends. Let people know you’re searching and what you’re looking for.

Don’t do this on your own. Directly ask for help. If there’s an organization you want to work for and you know someone there, ask them to help get your resume into the right hands. Some jobs can be only uncovered through chats, so the more you step out of the shadows, the more likely you are to find something that suits you. And seek the support of others, especially people who’ve been through a job search themselves. Ask what worked and what didn’t. Ask to look at their resume. Learn from everyone you talk to.

Be realistic

Be kind to yourself. Searching for a job can be mentally and emotionally taxing. Do something every day that feeds your soul, whether that’s going for a hike, sitting quietly with a coffee, or anything you enjoy and won’t make you feel guilty because of the cost.

If you need money immediately, understand it’s OK to take a job that is temporary (just don’t tell the hiring manager that). Maybe you’ve been restructured, and you need to pay the mortgage or rent, pay for your car, or cover a debt.

My advice is to commit yourself to finding—maybe not now, but in the long term—a position that’s a better fit. And, keep looking for that position while you work to pay the bills.

Srivindhya (Vindhya) Kolluru is a Toronto-based journalist who writes about business and personal finance.

Read more from this issue of The Get:

1. How to save $10,000 and $100,000 on a Canadian salary
2. Money management for couples: For richer, not poorer
3. George Stern on how to deal with a toxic manager—and not be one yourself
4. Stop getting duped by AI photos and shop online with confidence