According to a recent CIPD survey 30% of respondents under 55 cited wanting greater job satisfaction as their primary motivator for leaving their jobs. Identifying what would make you truly happy in your next role should be one of the first things you do before rewriting your CV and making job applications.
Job satisfaction is entirely subjective, we each have different requirements to feel like we have a purpose, feel fulfilled, valued and motivated and ultimately feel happy about our careers.
Asking a few key questions can help you pinpoint whether a new role is likely to give you a high level of job satisfaction.
- What are your strengths?
- What do you excel at and enjoy?
- What is your preferred style of working?
- How important is professional development to you?
- What inspired you to be a …?
You can also think about what have been your best and worst jobs? Don’t think of them in terms of status, but focus on why you felt it was your best job, what did you enjoy about it? What made you feel good at the end of every day? On the flip side, what made a job your worst job, what should you avoid in the future?
Taking time to do so this will give you a good understanding of your own intrinsic motivating factors that will lead to higher job satisfaction. Extrinsic factors such as salary, job security, working conditions and policies will also play a role but these are likely to be less important than your own motivating factors.
Once you’ve made your list of job satisfiers, relook at them and rank them so you can identify what is truly non-negotiable and what is more of a ‘nice to have’. When considering your career options, refer back to this list and make sure your non-negotiables are covered.
The quest for job satisfaction doesn’t end there! Once you’ve started your new role your expectations, and how you approach the job are key to finding job satisfaction You can impact your own levels of satisfaction by being proactive in identifying opportunities for development, seeking feedback, offering to take on new projects or lead meetings. If your new role exceeds your expectations you will feel fulfilled and happy through creating your own unique recipe for job satisfaction.
If you’d like some help identifying your own job satisfiers then get in touch via my profile page to set up a free no obligation call.
One to one career coaching can help you gain clarity about your career direction, rediscover what interests and motivates you and pinpoint what you are looking for from your career.
This article was written by our partner coach, Denise Tuke , career coach and founder of https://www.dtcareercoaching.co.uk/.
January 25, 2023
