When you were a kid, what did you dream of growing up to be?

This may sound obvious, but before you can find the career you really want, you have to know what you are seeking. Career planning is a delicate process. The work we do, as well as where we do it (our work environment), have a huge impact on our ability to experience life and career success.

Too often when asked to define an ideal career, people think immediately about salary and benefits. As a result, there are plenty of people who earn a great living with exceptional benefits, but hate their jobs and are very unhappy.

A job you really want can't be based on financial criteria alone. And, with a few exceptions, the industry is often not as important as the actual day-to-day activities. If a "great" job does not allow you the opportunity to do what you love and nurture your natural talents, it is probably not the ideal job for you.

Understanding and discovering natural talents is an important key to a successful job search. Finding our talents helps us uncover those things that we love and enjoy, and nurturing those at which we excel. Discovering our talents also helps us figure out the areas where we do not excel - the things that make us unhappy and leave us feeling unfulfilled. When you waste your natural abilities you often end up stuck doing something you hate. It is important to weed out those skills you dislike and find out what it is you really love.

Effective career planning means figuring out the specific criteria and values you want the job to fulfill. By this we mean it is important to consider those daily activities that are going to make the best use of your natural skills and talents? Consider this:

* If you are an outgoing person and a job isolates you from interacting with other people all day, it is not for you.
* If you are orderly and find yourself in a work environment that is chaotic, you will wear out over time.
* If you work well with only occasional supervision, a job where you're micromanaged will be annoying.

Knowing who you are is key to finding the right job for you. Ask yourself some self-reflective questions. Define the criteria that make up your "perfect" job. What's important to you in the work you do? What brings you satisfaction? What expectations do you have for work-life balance? What natural skills and talents do you have?

You'll also want to consider the answers to questions like:

* Part-time or full-time?
* Flexibility or consistency (both in hours and tasks)?
* Amount of interaction with others?
* Specific skills you want to use?
* Travel?
* Do you like to make decisions or follow procedure?

Answering these questions is the first step in finding the path that will lead you to ultimate career satisfaction. When we are doing what we love, we are often performing at our best. This leads to a kind of fulfillment that allows us to live life passionately and happily.

About the Author:

Lynda-Ross Vega is an accomplished business executive and management consultant with more than 30 years of experience in human and technical systems. She's the co-founder of Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., a consulting firm that specializes in helping people discover their true skills and talents. To find out more about how to discover your Perceptual Style and uncover your natural skills visit their website at www.vrft.com.

• 1 Comments

  

Comments

Hey great news. Useful. Thanks

 Posted by: Morren at November 16, 2009 10:49 AM

 Add your own comments

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)

What next?

 Digg it

 Save This Page

 Subscribe to GetEntrepreneurial.com

 Leave a comment

Next Article: Is Your Timing Keeping You From Being Successful In Your Business? Part 1 »

Previous Article: Only Losers Cut Their Prices »

Steven Teo is a GE Network Expert. View Steven Teo's profile or read more articles from Steven Teo. Learn more about the GE Experts Network.

Have an expert opinion on issues entrepreneurs and small business owners face everyday? Join the GetEntrepreneurial.com Experts Network and share your expertise with the community!

The new GE Experts Network is inviting seasoned entrepreneurs and small business owners to come on board and contribute small business advice to our community of aspiring entrepreneurs. If you have an effective way of generating sales or you know how to use social networking to connect with your customers, join us in providing wider entrepreneurial content that would benefit small business owners worldwide.

Click Here to Learn More >>

Related Articles

 Ooh Local Activities » If you can find and do great, local stuff at home, why not do great local stuff that’s run by local people...

 Necktie Reuse » New Startups: Narwhal Company is the inspirational idea of an everyday person that was looking to move away from the 9-5 lifestyle...

 Dog’s Collar Comes with Tweets » "Puppy Tweets" dog’s collar allows dog owners to follow their dog on twitter. This plastic tag (introduced by Mattel), comes equipped with...

 Friend of Trends » Trend Friend is an online (and smartphone accessible) gift idea database that allows users to quickly find the trendiest gifts based on...

Need more brand new promising business ideas and innovations around the world you wish you'd thought of? Visit CoolBusinessIdeas.com now!

Ever wanted to be the CEO of your very own Starbucks or Amazon.com? Fire your boss and be your own boss? Now you can, with BIZNESS! - the free biweekly business newsletter about new business ideas, opportunities and innovations from around the world. More than just new business trends, BIZNESS! helps the aspiring entrepreneur (you!) with small business advice, business tips, and entrepreneur resources and opportunities.

   Subscribe for free now!    

---