What You Really Need to Have a Great Job

 

Millions of words have been written and spoken about the conditions, environment, and management attitude that encourage employees to be content in the workplace. If you read everything that’s been written, you might become more confused than clear about whether you have the right job.

While there are no right or wrong jobs, there is a “best job for you.” It’s important to understand the difference. More important than all the philosophies, techniques, and sometimes contradictory tips created to help you evaluate the quality of your job, is the “match” of your personality to your job description. The key, according to experts like Paul Tieger, author of the career guide, “Do What You Are,” is to learn who you are inside. Once you accomplish this, sometimes very challenging, you can then use this knowledge to evaluate your current job and career.

Author Penelope Trunk offers a new and simpler theory. She believes you need only three things, conditions, and attitudes to make your job, whatever it is, into the right place at the right time for you.

• Some control over your workplace environment. Whether you are a neatnik or prefer your area to display more of a “controlled chaos” look, having a feeling of control helps you enjoy your work day.
  
  
• A measure of control over your workload. Some people work fast; others tend to take more time. Some workers love deadlines to perform their best work; others despise deadlines and create undue pressure on themselves. Ms. Trunk believes that these personal differences are not overly important, but having some control over your workload is a critical component of job enjoyment and fulfilment. That feeling of control gives you a sense of empowerment and confidence to perform—happily—at high levels.
  
  
• Having challenging, but achievable goals to address. Goals are effective for everyone, whether they are self-set or management established. Employees experience pleasure or fear, depending on the realistic possibly of achievement. Facing goals that you view as impossible will not encourage, ignite, or energize your work day. They are more likely to generate unhappiness, depression, and negative self-image than create inspiration. But having challenging goals, that are attainable if you perform, can bring interest and enjoyment to the workplace.

After spending quality time analyzing who you are and how your current job matches your personality, you may decide to take all actions to improve your current workplace situation. You might also choose to make a job or career change. You will hopefully choose the best answer for you.

This article is, in part, sourced from:
http://www.bnet.com/blog/penelope-trunk/think-you-need-a-new-job-you-8217re-probably-wrong/354?tag=drawer-container;load-section-river

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