Margaret E. Broadley
Pragmatic Questions: Defining your next job:
Where do you want to live?
What functional expertise do you want to provide?
What industry do you want to work in?
How many hours per week are you willing to work?
What is the minimum starting salary you need?
Where do you want to live?
As soon as you move to a new place, you begin building relationships and making commitments. Especially when you’re young and have fewer obligations, it’s important to consider carefully where you want to make these investments. Visit www.findyourspot.com to discover your ideal city!What functional expertise do you want to provide?
The most important skill in job hunting is putting yourself in the shoes of the employer. A potential employer cares about how you can add value from the first day on the job. Do you have skills in accounting, engineering or some other technical function? If not, consider sales or operations. Sales can be a particularly effective way to learn an industry.-
What industry do you want to work in?
If you’re really inspired by the products, mission, or culture of a particular industry, get connected with that industry. You can likely find extraordinary opportunities in any industry that interests you.
The next two questions determine whether you’re willing to pay the price to get the job doing what you want, where you want, in the field that appeals to you.
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How many hours per week are you willing to work?
The more time you are willing to invest, the more opportunities there will be. However, consider what you’ll be giving up. Will you have fewer hours with your family, your friends, your children? -
What is the minimum starting salary you need?
The more time you are willing to invest, the more opportunities there will be. If you show intense interest in an industry, a company, or a position, and are willing to accept whatever pay is offered and the time that is required, you have a much greater chance of getting the job you want.
Narrowing Questions: Clarifying your objectives:
Questions about your priorities are more abstract. As you “try on” different jobs, you’ll face hard decisions. What is more important to you- where you live or the industry you work in? Is the size of the company more important or the starting salary? How do you balance job security versus the chance to advance quickly? Setting clear priorities will make it easier to narrow the search.
- What degree of independence do you enjoy?
- How quickly do you want to build the skills required for your long-term goals?
- How quickly do you want to develop beneficial relationships?
- How much flexibility do you need in your work schedule?
- What size company do you want to work for?
- How important is job stability and security to you right now?
- How fast do you want your company and industry to be growing?
- How much salary, bonus, and equity compensation will you need in 5, 10, and 15 years?
- How many hours each week are you willing to work in 10 years, 15 years?
- How many days each week are you willing to travel?
- Are you willing to live overseas? For how long?
- How important is the prestige of the job?
- How important is a mentor?
- How important is company culture?
As you prioritize these objectives, keep in mind some inherent trade-offs. Fast-growing companies that offer equity usually offer less stability than larger companies. Larger companies usually offer less independence and rarely offer equity.