“Never continue in a job you don’t enjoy. If you’re happy in what you’re doing, you’ll like yourself, you’ll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you’ll have more success than you could possibly have imagined.” —Roger Caras
Have you ever been asked, “What do you look for in a job?”
Perhaps a friend has asked you that out of curiosity, or you’ve heard it at a job interview.
The default thought is often the pay. After all, that’s why many of us get jobs, right?
But dig deeper and you will find many more factors to consider in what to look for in a job.
Minimalism has many benefits. It gives freedom, time, and reduces stress. Minimalism also reduces the amount of money required for life.
As a result, it provides an opportunity to choose work based on a number of factors—not just the size of the paycheck. Once we learn contentment with less, we are free to weigh any number of factors in choosing work. Embrace minimalism. It opens up countless opportunities in life and work.
To help you enjoy waking up in the morning, consider these 12 things to look for in a job:
1) It makes a positive difference
Choose a job that adds value to our world, that leaves it better than you found it, and genuinely helps other people.
2) You enjoy your co-workers
Given the fact that you will spend a large percentage of your day at work, be sure you enjoy the people around you. It is comforting to know that they support you, cheer for you, and work together as a team.
3) You feel appreciated and valued
A paycheck is nice, but that goes straight to the bank. On the other hand, appreciation is something you carry in your soul every day. This appreciation can be communicated through respect, unexpected gifts, or just an old-fashioned “thank-you.”
4) You are trusted
It’s nice to know that somebody isn’t always looking over your shoulder. And when you are given a task, you are given the freedom to complete it.
5) It is something you love to do
The old adage is completely true, “Find a job that you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Look for a job that keeps you motivated by its very nature, not solely by the paycheck – because that wears off real fast.
6) It fits your personality
Anyone who has ever taken a personality test knows we all have unique personalities that thrive in certain environments. Some enjoy working with people, others enjoy completing tasks. Some like making the decisions, others don’t. Find a job that fits your sweet spot. And by the way, if you keep getting this one wrong, there are people who can help you.
7) It challenges you to grow
Look for a job that will make you better and allow you to work hard. Whether through challenging assignments, educational opportunities, demanding excellence, or informal mentors, a job that forces you to grow beyond your current skill set will make you a better person and it, a better company.
8) The company’s values align with yours
At the end of the day, your integrity is what matters most. Don’t compromise it every time you walk into the workplace. If you are at a job that requires you to suspend your personal convictions, you don’t need to be—nor should you be.
9) A flexible, results-oriented culture
A culture of flexibility suggests a results-driven focus—one that is more interested in you successfully completing your job with excellence than clocking in a set amount of work hours during a specified time of the day.
10) It values family
You value your family. Your job should too.
11) It brings balance to life
Work is not so bad when you love it. But if you are not allowed to explore other endeavors (play/hobbies/family) because of its demands, it is not healthy for your soul, life, or body. Find a job that allows you to enjoy your life outside of work too.
12) It brings you satisfaction
The ability to look back at your day, your year, or your life with satisfaction is more valuable than any number of digits in the bank.
Own less stuff. Do work you love.
Next time you’re asked about what you’re looking for in a job, you’ll have a dozen fantastic answers that go beyond just pay.
Great
I think it’s great that you talked about how you should find a job that aligns with your personality. My brother has been looking for a career that he can stay committed to next year. Maybe he should get some training in order to find a job that suits him.
Hi Joshua.
People tends to focus entirely on salary, and that is a sad thing to hear. I’ve always told my colleagues that in fact, the most important thing in work is happiness. People with such happiness job should consider themselves very lucky. Cheers.
Job Lnw.
the fact that you will spend a large percentage of your day at work, be sure you enjoy the people around you. It is comforting to know that they support you, cheer for you, and work together as a team.
Thanks
Joshua, thanks for this great post! I’m almost at the end of my working years, and I think I’m in a good place. This article helped confirm my choice of job and company. I’ll keep these 12 for periodic affirmations! Thanks
Thank you! Just this month I accepted a job offer, I’ve been trying to figure out why. 16 years ago I retired to have a baby, after my divorce 7 years ago, I returned to school to pursue my dream career. After I graduated last spring, I interviewed at a few places and started to understand how long it would take to get to this dream career, and how long it would take to payoff my divorce and school debt with an entry level salary. When I was suddenly offered a position that would not only provide a sufficient income, it would also allow me to pay down debt and start traveling, I promptly accepted. The only problem has been that it is in my previous field and not my dream career. Looking at this list, I can also see that my new company checks of all of these boxes too! Now I can see my priorities more clearly. I’m working remotely from home, I will be improving people’s work lives, this work was very fulfilling and will be again, it is well with my soul.
I dont want a “job” I just wanted to live close to nature and land. Everything has to have a dollar sign on it. Most people I worked for were narcissist jerks.
This is so difficult. My partner and I both left jobs that made us unhappy, retrained and started on a fresh path. We aren’t massively materialistic people but we would like to own a home. Unfortunately we can’t get a mortgage as we don’t earn enough in their eyes. What should we do? Go back to the rat race or face up to the fact we may never move out of our tiny apartment? Any advice would be really appreciated.
I stayed in the “rat race” long enough to buy a house. Now im seeking to do work that is fulfilling and aligns with my morals and conscience. Sadly its hard to support my budget without the overworked demanding career i have. I wish i would have set my focus on my daily happiness long ago instead of trying to have the house cars and fake friends. I understand the desire for your own home. I suggest staying away from owner finance and to maintain a happy heart everyday. One day it will all come together and you will look back and laugh at the thing that once cause anxiety. Hang in there its worth it.
#6. How do find a person who can help you find the right fit for your personality??
Interesting article. Thank you! Another good read with 5 more points to see : http://blog.ehl.edu/beyond-salary-what-to-look-for-when-choosing-a-job