Everyone can have a perfect job, and for everyone the definition of a perfect job is different. Do you enjoy working with your hands or helping people? Maybe youre the type that enjoys analyzing and solving a problem, or managing a team of people. Learning about yourself is the first step towards finding your perfect job.

Unless you know yourself, you will not be able to make informed decisions about what type of work really satisfies you. So lets get started by examining your secret dreams, skills and knowledge, likes and dislikes, and your perfect work environment:

Do you have a dream?

Have you ever thought of doing something different, if only I could? The main reason people dont make career changes is because they are not clear about what they want to do. Give yourself permission to dream.

Create a quiet place for yourself where you will not be disturbed by others, the phone, or work to be done. Get out your paper and pen, or computer and start writing down what interests you. No editing of any thoughts - just describe in detail what you would love to do.

Now that you have captured those ideas, you are ready to move forward and see how your skills, likes & dislikes and work environment work with your dreams.

What are your skills and knowledge?

What motivates you to work -- money, security, fun, creativity, contributing to society or learning?

What are your three top strengths?

What do you know a lot about?

Do you like working with people, data or things?

What do you do for fun in your spare time?

Have you ever had a job that you enjoyed? If so, what made it a great job for you?

Clear about your job likes and dislikes?

We all respond differently to our daily work responsibilities and have definite likes and dislikes. Look at everything you do during the day, and be as detailed as possible about what you find satisfying or tedious.

What areas of your job do you find gratifying or exciting? What do you most enjoy in your current position or in that best job you once had: Helping people, fixing things, numbers, project work, administrative responsibilities, or managing others?

What areas of your job do you not like? Write down anything you can think of: demanding manager, not enough money, systems that are inefficient, administrative tasks that are boring, complex projects, writing, or presentations.

Define your ideal working environment

Identify the ideal environment you would most like to work in. Many people work over 40 years, minimally 8 hours a day, which comes to approximately 83,000 hours over our lifetimes. These hours do not include the morning ritual of getting dressed, or the commuting time. Think about how much impact your work environment has on your well-being and happiness.

Where do you prefer to work -- big corporation, medium size company, or a small growing company?

Which one is better for you -- working in a team or alone?

What is the best way for your boss to manage you?

Do you like constant change in your work day or a regular routine?

Your ideal work space is: activity around you or a quiet space?

Is regular hours what you want, or working intensely on a project no matter how long you have to stay?

What type of learning opportunities do you want from your company?

Do you have a family and need to find a balance between work and your personal time?

Does traveling for a job excite you, or you are happy staying in one place.

How long of a work commute will you tolerate before it becomes too stressful for you?

Composite of You

You have just spent time discovering aspects of yourself that excites or uninspires you, and the perfect place to work. Using the information you have gathered about yourself, lets drill down further to surface what is essential in your job.

Make a list of the top five must haves in your perfect job.

Make a list of your top five nice to haves in your perfect job.

Does your current job match that list? If yes, you are in your perfect job. If no, then go to the next step.

Next Steps

Consult the numerous books on creating a career.

Research career websites which can provide you with step-by-step guidelines in your job search.

A great first place to check out is http://online.onetcenter.org/. This site holds the largest database of jobs.

Find a buddy and help each other on this career journey. Each of you should complete the above questions, do the research, and support each other in your job searches.

Work with a career coach. Coaching gives you the clarity and support to accomplish whatever goals you choose.

Start today!

No matter how small your action, if you start, you'll feel better about yourself.

Copyright 2004 by Pat Brill: all rights reserved