Working out what you want

It's not always easy working out what type of job, company and team you want to work in, especially if you are new on the job scene or have been in the same position for a number of years. Here are the key things you should be asking yourself when at the start of your job search, all will help you select the jobs right for you when searching.

What are you great at? What do you like doing?

The average person spends a third of every day at work, so it is important that time at work is interesting and rewarding. Work is much better when you're doing something you’re good at and enjoy. Take time to think about your key skills and attributes and how you could use them at work. Think about the aspects of your current job which you excel at and find stimulating and look for roles which contain those tasks and challenges.

Making a list of liked tasks which you are skilled at means you can quickly skim through job descriptions when searching and easily shortlist roles which tick your skills boxes. If you are unsure of your strengths you can:

• Ask trusted and honest friends and family what they think you are good at
• Approach professionals – recruitment consultants, your college/school careers advice centre, or job centre to help you work out your skills
• Try online self assessment tools – there are many personality tests and packages on the web

How do you want to work?

You can choose to undertake full-time or part-time work. You can take a permanent job as an employee of a company, or choose to take on a shorter term contract or temporary role. There are, of course, benefits to each way of working. If you don’t have a preference you might want to consider both when searching.

How long are you prepared to travel?

Decide in advance how long you are prepared to travel each day. Once you have decided that look at transport in the area, how far can you journey in that time at rush hour. Distances in miles can be deceiving so look at public transport available, road quality, traffic jams, and parking. Then mentally draw a perimeter for your job search, so you only select jobs you can work in without being tired from too long a commute.

What kind of working environment do you like?

The working environment which you like best is something you should consider prior to looking at companies. Some of the following are worth thinking about.

• Do you like being part of a large team and large office with plenty of noise?
• Are you happy working in silence with few people around you?
• Do you prefer working remotely and travelling a lot without a fixed workplace?
• Are you comfortable being on the telephone most of the day?

The environment includes the place where a company is. Consider if you need the buzz of a big city, to be near a town centre with amenities or are happy working somewhere quieter.

What kind of company do you want to work for?

No two companies are identical. People often think about company size as a deciding factor in its own right. But it may be more beneficial to compare companies large and small against:

• the prospects for career progression you want
• the availability of training and development
• the opportunity to shine and own projects personally
• the opportunity to be aware of and take part in strategic decisions
• the scale and scope of benefits offered
• the structure of teams and how people interact and report to each other
• whether you want to work in an formal or informal culture

How much do you want to earn?

Don’t reach for the moon, instead research what you are worth and pitch for jobs slightly above and below that level. Remember most people get the chance to negotiate on salary after offer if the employer is keen enough. If you are working with a recruitment company like Mandeville, they can also give you salary negotiation help and advice.