New Delhi: To love your work, you have to enjoy it. Studies show that doing a job you love not only makes you happy but more creative and productive too. However, when it comes to finding a job that people love doing, there is a complete miss-match between what people currently do and what they love doing.
A recent poll by Monster.com reveals that 56% of respondents have been unable to find a job that meets their passion. Even bigger concern is that 14% said they were unsure as to what their passions are. While 17% of those responded said they work for money. There was very small number - 13% - that said they were lucky to follow their passion in their current job. Are you among these lucky few or are you part of the larger pie that feels disconnected from their jobs today?
Finding a job you love is both an art and science. And here's how you should go about it.
1. Find that sweet spot
For those of you already in the workspace, need to identify that sweet spot between what you currently do and what you love doing. Here your acquired skills and competencies can meet your passion. For instance, if you're a full-time sales person and after-hours video gamer, you should consider a career in the sales department of a gaming company. The insights you have, as a customer, will prove valuable and who can better sell a game than an ardent player?
2. Identify your interests
Do you enjoy creating computer games, writing codes, testing gaming apps or does travel give you a kick? Find a pattern in what you enjoy and love. Explore if it can be integrated in your job. Find inspiration here.
3. Evaluate your skills
What is it that you do well? Are you good at problem solving, communicating and persuading other people? Or are you compulsively orderly and good at arranging systems and processes? Putting your interests and special skills together often helps you identify a career you'll like.
4. Take a test
There are a whole set of tests, called psychometric tests, that are often used as an aid in career choices. Such tests measure skills, knowledge, abilities, attitudes and personality traits and are said to be good indicators of a person's preferences and abilities. The best known of these is the Briggs Myers test. This test will define you as a certain personality type and then suggest the careers that are suitable for you. Such a test may tell you that you have an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving) personality and that you would do well in art, music or as a therapist.
