8 tips to finding a job you love

The results are in. Australia’s unemployment rate is predicted to rise well into 2021. This means many of us may  need to find new careers before the end of the year. Losing your job is never easy. However, once the shock has passed, it can help view your new circumstances as an opportunity. After all, if you’ve been dreaming of a new, more exciting career, this could be the moment to make that change.

Australia is bouncing back

The good news is there are some fantastic jobs out there, especially in Australia’s more resilient industries. They include the wider healthcare industry, community services, construction and information technology.

Your dream job is out there

The job you're really passionate about might be around the corner but basing your search on passion alone could be a mistake. Understanding and improving your skills first can broaden your horizons. What you do next will have important implications on your future happiness.

Here are some tips to help you find a job you can love, and keep.

How to find a job you'll love

1. Be optimistic.
2. Understand your skills.
3. Bend but don't break.
4. Build on strong foundations.
5. Develop your passions.
6. Understand the job market.
7. Be realistic about your earnings.
8. Sell yourself. 

1. Be optimistic.

Losing your job can really knock your self-confidence but there’s a bright sky on the horizon. Recent labour market changes mean that 20% of Australian businesses are seeking more staff. 

With skill shortages in a number of industries, upskilling has never been more important. It’s also never been easier. Online courses offer a manageable and flexible route to a wide range of qualifications. Learning something new is great for your mental health, and can really help with finding that fresh career.

2. Understand your skills.

It can be difficult to appreciate your existing skillset - especially if you were in your last job for a long time, or tend to underestimate your ability. If this sounds like you, you’ve got work to do. You know that interview question about strengths and weaknesses? Well, it’s coming your way.

3. Bend but don’t break.

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s the importance of being flexible. Across Australia, the great jobs are going to people who have learned quickly to flex their skills. Think about the things you did well in your last job. Examine these and work out where they might be useful in a new career.

4. Build on strong foundations.

You’re on the way to finding a job you love. Once you’ve worked out your existing skills, the next step is to refine them for the post-Covid era. There are plenty of learning opportunities out there. For example, if you’re a great communicator but want to understand more about modern marketing methods, you could consider an online course in social media marketing.

5. Develop your passions.

Passions and skills are intricately linked. It’s easier to be passionate about something if you’re good at it. You’re also more likely to do something well if you really like it. Nurturing this link will help you find a new career. Take jobs in the caring industry as an example. If your favourite element of your last office-based job was helping your colleagues, you might thrive on studying an online course in community services.

6. Understand the job market.

Australia’s job market is going through a time of unprecedented change. This could present a threat to future job security but only if you don’t keep a careful eye on business news. Being curious about what’s happening in the business world won’t just help you understand industry patterns. It’ll keep you one step ahead of the job-seeking crowd, and help you sound knowledgeable at interviews.

7. Be realistic about earnings.

We can all agree that finding a job you love doing is fantastic. However, that shine soon wears off if you can’t pay the bills. The average Australian wage in May 2020 was $1,714. However. most of us don’t have average levels of expenditure.

Setting up an expenses spreadsheet now will help you understand your immediate financial requirements. It will also help you with budgeting once you find your dream job. Include all your regular expenses, and then add extra for travel, savings and contingency funds. A pay calculator will help you work out the weekly or monthly income after tax of any jobs you apply for.

8. Sell yourself.

For those of us who are introverts this last one’s a bit tricky. Selling yourself, your passions and your skills is what finding a job you love is all about. However, this isn’t necessarily all about face-to-face confidence.

Invest in your future through information gathering and additional training, and your actions will do the selling for you. A great resume and strong cover letter can go a long way. However, demonstrating your willingness to work hard for your dream job is what will ultimately impress the employers.

Reskill today for rewards tomorrow

By balancing your passions against your real-world understanding, you’ll soon work out what your next great career step will be. You might have to work hard but any effort you put into gaining new skills will soon pay off.

Consider signing up to one of our online courses today, and experience a whole new you, as well as a whole new career.

Fi Darby Fi is a professional copywriter based in Devon, England. She specialises in education, careers, travel and outdoor writing and is the co-author of the popular daily outdoor blog 'Two Blondes Walking'. Fi has written three children's books and, when she isn't writing, Fi loves to gather inspiration from long walks, early morning sea swims and winter wild camps.