How to Choose a Job to Best Fit Your Lifestyle

September, 2017

"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

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 just spent more time at work.

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What’s Your Purpose for Working? - At the end of the day, what do you want to get out of your work experience? To some, it is all about the money, yet 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, or more.

Work as Happiness - A hard-working person may have a big smile on their face, no matter what the job. Which job could put a 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 and are up for an adventure, perhaps you would enjoy working abroad in tourism and hospitality.

Natural Skills and Talents - Know yourself, and you will discover what your natural skills are that could pay off in big ways, with a small amount of effort. If you are not sure, ask your friends and co-workers to name them for you. Don’t underestimate your gifts and talents. The best international recruitment agencies take this into account in the hiring process. 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 worklife. 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.

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 remember, a good job is a job well done.

Right livelihood - If you were working in an industry that you feel passionate about, would it change your relationship with work? Even if a person isn’t doing the exact task that they love, some people 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 helps you to live a meaningful life. 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.