How to Choose A Job to Fit Your Lifestyle

Date Posted: 09/10/2018

“Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash…in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying.” – Studs Terkel

This is a very important topic that each person should think about for themselves. Each person has their own relationship with work. For some, it is a means to an end; a person works just enough to support other hobbies, interests, and family relationships in their lives. At the other end of the scale are people for whom work forms their identity and reason for being. Ideally, lifestyle and work fit blissfully together. Yet in the real world, most of us fall somewhere in between. In all that has been studied about creating a meaningful life, no one at the end of life says that they wished that they had spent more time at work.

What are your goals for working?

At the end of the day, ask yourself what you want to get out of your work experience. For some people, it may be only about the money. However, if you look closer, you may discover a range of skills and experiences that come with the passing of time on the job. Perhaps work is where you socialise, challenge yourself, gain leadership skills, get alone time, learn to work with others, make accomplishments, get job satisfaction or more.

Work as Happiness

A hard-working person may have a big smile on their face, no matter what the job. But what job would give you happiness and leave you with a big smile on your face? If you are competitive and like a good challenge, perhaps you would find sales exciting. If you are very organised, you may succeed with recruitment for an overseas office job. If you like people, perhaps you would enjoy working abroad in tourism and hospitality or as a nurse to help the sick and elderly. If you are passionate about a particular cause, you could find happiness working for a non-profit organisation that is striving to make a difference. No matter what your interests and skills are, there is a job out there that could make you happy. So go find it!

Natural Skills and Talents

You should know yourself and what will make you happy and content in life. Once you do, you will be able to better understand your natural skills and talents. These are the areas in which you could potentially excel with only a small amount of effort. If you are unsure of what these are, ask your friends and co-workers for their opinion of you. Don’t underestimate your gifts and talents. The best international recruitment agencies take this into account when hiring. If you are friendly and good with people, a customer service job may be a place for you to shine.

Personalize your workplace

We spend a great portion of the day at work—away from our families and loved ones. Sometimes our family needs brush up against our work life. Can we flex our time to make these fit together more efficiently? Think of other small adjustments you can make at the workplace to create more comfort for yourself, such as bringing in a special coffee mug, hanging family photos on your cubicle walls, or wearing headphones and working with music when appropriate. You might also want to try communicating with your family more during the workday. Whether it’s through text, email, or quick phone calls, staying in touch with loved ones can help you feel more connected to them, even when you’re apart.

Growth Opportunities

Most people prefer work that offers some type of opportunity for growth. Even if your current job is not your end goal, consider your transferable skills. Keep your eyes open for hidden opportunities on the job, where you may see a gap in operations or an area you can expand into. Think about how you can contribute more of yourself to make it better for yourself and the organisation. Work with your supervisor to set reasonable goals for success, and don’t forget to communicate your progress along the way. A good job is a job well done.

Right livelihood

If you were working in an industry that you feel passionate about, it would change your relationship with work. People who are passionate about their work tend to find job satisfaction in working for a company whose mission and vision they believe wholeheartedly in.

In conclusion, the goal is to do work that you find meaningful. Whether you work to live, or live to work, it is up to you to look honestly at yourself and discover what type of job would bring you the greatest satisfaction overall.