Archive for July, 2008
Considering Why, Who and What when Choosing a Job or Career
July 30th, 2008. Published under Career Satisfaction. No Comments.
Marcus Buckingham’s questions of why, who and what (see previous post for more details) can also be good guides for the job searcher.
Why: If you know a company’s purpose, you can determine if their position would be in accord with your own values. Many job search guides ask you to list what is most important to you to determine which jobs are best suited for you. If you value helping children, you might want to work in a daycare or school, and not at a corporation which endorses child labor.
Who: While looking for a new position, you should understand who you will be working with. Some people work best in a large group or with one or two close coworkers, so you should know your strengths. Be careful about getting too attached to the idea of working with specific people because they may move on, leaving you in a situation you dislike.
What: Understanding what exactly you will be doing is tantamount to choosing a job or a career. If you accept a job advertised as “writing” for the local newspaper without asking questions, you might be writing ad copy instead of covering stories. Even if you share your company’s goals and like your coworkers, your success in your career will come from following through on your daily tasks.
Three Important Questions: Why, Who and What
July 28th, 2008. Published under Career Satisfaction. No Comments.
There comes a point in everyone’s life when you wake up and a feeling of despair sets in. You just can’t bear to go to work again, speak to the same people, and do the same monotonous tasks.
When Marcus Buckingham, author and motivational speaker, works with someone facing this problem, he asks them three important questions:
- Why this job? What is its broader purpose?
- Who are you working with?
- What exactly do you do at this job?
By exploring these questions, you can isolate the real reasons you are staying in an unsatisfying job. Often we can be enchanted with the idea behind our work or with our co-workers, making us loyal to a career that is not meeting our personal needs
The people you work with may keep you in a job with no opportunity for advancement. You may like preparing documents and giving presentations, but you may not care for your company’s goals or motives. Dedication to a career helping people may keep you working with doctors and nurses you despise.
These questions will help you gain a deeper understanding of your relationship with your job and what you really value from the experience.