One of the things I have observed lately while thinking back over my past employment is how well things have worked out. Let me explain. The jobs I have enjoyed have been challenging and educational in a good positive way. The jobs I settled for (worked it because I had to have a job) had issues of different kinds to the point of being (fired/dismissed/let-go/quit) what ever you want to call it.
So, here is the lesson when looking for your next job and it is not a perfect science, but rather something to keep in mind while on the job search. Let me define "Settled for job." Taking a job with the thought process that you will work it for a year until you land the job you want, but find that while you work this job that you are unable to locate the job you want with the pay you are getting currently. So, you get your head into gear that you will learn more then you already have about the current job/industry/company to move up in the business. As you do the work or seek out the extra training or the necessary information to advance, the job you were just learning to enjoy fully is now gone (by any means). This job could be as simple as delivering pizza to working at a bank or real estate. So, it really doesn't matter what industry you work in or were working in or applying for. The key question to ask yourself when applying; "Are you settling for this job if it is the only one you can get?"
My job history is as colorful as any of you. I've worked everything from washing dishes in a 3 star restaurant to working in a large bank to even owning my own business. The jobs I enjoyed are the ones I learned the most from. Those are the ones I may not have made a ton of money, but were the ones where I enjoyed every second of it regardless. Those are the ones I quit and wasn't dismissed from. I quit those for different reasons; moving across country, going to school or a lateral move to another company that offered new challenges. In my working career, I've worked 18 jobs, (a few in the same industry), and owning my own business. A few of the jobs I completely sucked at and didn't stay long by my own choice. Some of them I stayed at for a year or longer to either to learn as much as I can and enjoyed doing or had no other choice. A few I found myself in by surprise and did my best to learn as much as I can and do the very best job I could. I wasn't always unhappy on these job that I settled for, because I made the best of it so I could get out of bed and get to work on time each day. I made friends, had laughs and learned from everyone around me. The down fall was it was causing health problems from weigh gain to re-injuring knees.
So, once again, I'm hunting for the job I don't have to settle for or be forced to learn to love. My resume is packed full of different experiences and education. There is about $200k between what I really want to do and getting a paycheck. I really really want to run my own business again, but I know I would have to win the lottery to get the funds to make it happen. So, are you settling or are you looking for something you enjoy?
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