Applying for a job is not an easy process. There is a lot more than one can imagine that comes before applying for a job. Everyone wants the ideal and right job that suits their abilities. There are a lot of ways to apply for jobs. However, the main idea is to consider your career and future. One may take up a job as an intern, part-time, fresher, or a stable permanent one. Either way, it adds up to your experience and livelihood. Hence, one should select the right path to lead to an ideal job. This article contains all the guidance you need to go about and understand what jobs you may apply for from various perspectives.
What jobs should one apply for?
So how does one understand what jobs would suit oneself? Many factors come into play that helps in making a decision. Personal factors such as your degree, skills, interests, and talents are one part. The other part is popular jobs. The jobs in demand are what people shift their focus to. Quite often, despite one’s degree, one may choose a different job. This could be due to various reasons such as reach, popularity, pay, and so on. Either way, it is a personal onus to make the right choice. Before understanding what jobs to apply for, you must take all the precautions and steps to understand your capacity.
How to decide?
There are quite a few tips you can use before you decide what jobs to apply for. These may help to get the right job that is productive and one you’re passionate about!
Familiarity
Though not quite common, this is a concept many consider. People generally lookout for jobs through recommendations or where they’re familiar with someone working there. Mostly, newer people opt for this idea. However, there are advanced people too who choose to work at a place they’re familiar with. The benefits are many. It helps familiarize better, understand the job and work quickly, and so on. Additionally, it works as a booster since recommendations can increase the trust level in the applicant.
Pay
This is an important point to look out for. It is quite common and genuine to consider pay when you apply for a job. The pay is largely given priority and that becomes a deciding factor on whether to take up the job at the particular company or not. Companies offering a larger salary than others are more likely to fill in positions than others. However, it is to be noted that with a pay increase, there is likely to be an increase in workload too. Smaller pays, on the other hand, offer fewer restrictions and have lesser tasks assigned. It depends upon the applicant on what they’re comfortable with.
Similarity
This is in line with those who prefer to stay in their comfort zone. It is ideal to apply for jobs which are similar to your previous ones. Another way to understand this point is to apply to companies that work with similar products. It helps understand the workflow better. Moreover, having experience in the same field is likely to be in your favor leading to success in being hired. If you’re looking for a temporary job, it’s best to choose a similar one. Also, if you’re in the middle of just building experience to work with a grand company, it is a good idea to choose similar working companies.
Environment
It is necessary to consider the environment of the job before you apply. Whether it is work from home, at a far location, or requires you to shift. Additionally, whether there’s a mixed group of employees and so on can help you narrow down your job applications. The environment plays a major role in affecting your performance too. If you’re not able to blend with the crowd or have trouble working at a location, it will directly affect your productivity. These are small points that go unnoticed at the time of applying and later cause hassles and disagreements.
Role model
It is a well-known fact that there are important people you’d like to work with someday. Maybe the most popular businessman or the smartest physician. Many applicants desire to work with certain professionals. Of course, you rarely get a chance to directly approach them. Instead, you need to work your way up. It is smart to consider jobs that have links to your role model and apply there. Alternatively, you can also look at jobs that will be of potential benefit when the time comes to apply with your ideal professional.
Favorable or dream job
Just like you have a role model, every applicant dreams to work somewhere. Be it the largest designer boutique or most famous store. Unless you’re an experienced and qualified professional, you won’t get a chance to approach such companies. If you are, you can go straight ahead and take your shot. However, if you’re still in between, look for jobs with higher credits. One that may be secondary to your ideal company and then build on your path. You want to apply to popular companies with challenges to be noticed as a potential applicant by your dream organization.
Flexibility
Last but not least comes flexibility. Even when you’re chasing your dreams and making a name for yourself, you need to consider other factors of life. Each person requires flexibility as per their lives at work. You need to make sure that your job offers the same to avoid stress. Your job shouldn’t be a clinging problem. Be careful about where you apply for this purpose. Very popular companies won’t offer as much flexibility as genuine jobs apply. Often, it comes to going out of your way at work to accomplish goals. Consider the possibilities of how much your potential is and how much you can extend it before you apply. Jobs usually make a mention of the commitment and requirements. Be sure to not go overboard as that too, can affect your performance.
Factors that affect job application decisions
Various factors need to be considered before you apply for a job. These include the initial decisions you need to make based on yourself and your capacity.
Skills
You want to consider your skills and talents when you apply for a job. Whether or not your skills match those of the company will determine your performance to an extent. Although skills can be developed later on, it is safer to initially have some background. If your skills are not in line with the job, chances are you won’t qualify. Needless to say, that is a waste of time. Secondly, if by chance you manage to get the job, your progress will be slow. You may have to start from scratch which will keep you behind. Skills are an important part of a job so don’t forget to give that a check before you apply for any job.
Education
This is an obvious requirement. You need to have the necessary qualifications to apply to a particular job. It makes no sense to choose a specific degree and then do a job that’s on a different line. It is known that some jobs are general and a precise degree is not required. However, one would ideally think it’s better to apply for a job that stems from your degree. This is because you’ll have more knowledge about your job.
Additionally, you will also be able to apply your knowledge well. Your training and learning time cuts down. Another benefit is that you get the favor of having a specific degree. That’s not all, you can also have perks and tricks that can help you perform better. These won’t be possible in the case of generalized jobs or jobs in a different field.
Challenge vs comfort
Challenge or comfort plays a major role while applying for jobs. Depending on the kind of person you are, you can decide on this actor. If you’re someone who loves to take risks, take up new tasks, and so on, choose new jobs. For those who like to try new things, jobs that offer a different position or different product to deal with would be ideal. However, those who prefer specializing in their limited skills can opt for jobs similar to their previous ones. If you’re not the kind to change constantly, apply for jobs that fit your education and skills. Additionally, apply for jobs that are within your potential and don’t require you to step out of your comfort zone.
Scope
The scope here could mean either that of your own or that of the job. In terms of your own, look out for your potential. How much you’re able to go out of your boundaries will give an idea about how to apply and what kind of jobs to apply to. Secondly, when you’re on the hunt for a job, look at the scope. This means you need to consider the pros and cons, the popularity of the company and brand, and so on. Such elements may express how successful and profitable the job would be for you. It will also give an idea of how much the workload would be. This can help you decide whether you still want the job. Another element to look at would be the scope of the job for you in the future. How beneficial it is for your experience, skills as well as to add to your resume for future purposes. These need to be given thought before you can apply.
Interest
You can have all the skills and recommendations. The job may be worth millions and can count brilliantly for your experience. However, if you have no interest in it, it will not yield productive results. Interest is of peak importance. It is what will drive you to work every day and will push you to do better. One can put it as performance is dependent on interest. If you’re not interested in a job, you will just do it for a namesake. That won’t benefit you or the company. It’s better to choose a job that interests you over one that’s popular. How into the job you are will affect your professional title, bonds, and your career itself. Interest comes as an important factor to keep you motivated whether your job is permanent or for a week. It is your interest that will build innovation and enthusiasm. Otherwise, you’ll be just another 9 to 5 robot working by the clock.
Availability
More than anything else is the availability of the job. Needless to say, you can’t apply unless there is a vacancy in a company. If you’re waiting for one, you’re wasting your time. You choose what jobs you apply to depending on the availability. Often, professional applicants look at the number of openings before they can apply for a job. For instance, if you’re a fresher, you should choose jobs with more openings to increase the possibility. Contradictory to freshers, a professional would look at jobs with lesser openings with the idea that their qualifications suffice to guarantee a position.
Other factors
Various other factors depend on your field and capacities. Your personality plays an important role too. If you’re an introvert, you don’t want to take a job that focuses on social interaction. Other factors namely strong skills, attitude, culture, and values are also to be considered. Think about what your idea of success is and where you want to stand in the professional world and apply for a job accordingly!
Avoid while choosing a job
If your question is what jobs to apply for, the dos have been successfully mentioned in detail for you. Now look at the don’ts to keep in mind
Jumping in
The first thing to avoid is taking the first job you find. You will begin to find many positions that suit your liking. Common factors such as pay, work hours, incentives, and so on may be the same. However, other factors like experience, comfort, workload, the environment will differ. You need to take a walk down all of the above-mentioned aspects before you decide what job to apply for. Refrain from jumping in as there will be other opportunities to consider. Always keep these options open before you finalize. Applying for a job doesn’t mean you apply for one and leave it there. Consider choosing a few, again narrowing them down, and applying at 2 or 3 potential places before you find the right job.
Duration and trials
The duration of a job is important, especially if you’re just beginning. Being a beginner, refrain from extreme work durations i.e. too long or too short tenures. You have a variety of experience to gather which has to be of quality at the same time. Additionally, if your job is part-time or if you’re looking for mere experience, leave out long-term job applications. Also, consider whether you prefer shifting and changing or you want a secure and stable job. All these factors are necessary to look at before applying.
Biases
It’s as simple as one can put it. If you don’t like a company or product, don’t apply for it. Your mind already has preconceived notions and biases. Therefore, it’s not the best idea to apply for jobs that you admire less. These biases will affect your performance. Additionally, you won’t enjoy working and may regret the entire experience. If you can leave aside the bias and take up the job, well and good. However, it is safer to choose from the many options other than ones that don’t suit your liking. Trying a product and defending or talking in favor of a product are two distinct things. While you may try a product and change your mind about it, the same cannot be guaranteed with working for the product. In such cases, it’s ideal to avoid doubts.
The ‘Against’ factor
Although we’re liberated and have our freedom, there are certain things we abide by. Our beliefs and values may not all be the same. For example, if a company is in favor of a particular strategy, you may not necessarily agree to the same. Look out for these factors and avoid jobs that go against your beliefs and ways of living. Surely, if you’re willing to completely wash it off and blend with the crowd, you can give it a try. However, standing out may not always be in the best favor for the company. It’s not that the company is wrong. Their opinions differ from yours and you may end up in a disagreement on that fact. That’s not the best thing to do at work.
Extremes
Looking for extreme opportunities is a big no. Avoid being picky about your job applications. While you must give thought and consideration, refrain from being too conserved. You can’t always get the exact job you want. You will have to make a few compromises. While keeping in mind factors, make sure you also negotiate with yourself here and there. Don’t look for extremes either. A large company or a company with high flexibility. One has to adjust a bit in professional life too. That’s how you build and grow! Apply for a job that requires you to bend your rules a little but at the same time ensures growth.
Popular jobs in-demand
Here are a few popular jobs that you can consider. Although, your qualifications and other factors have to be in sync to decide whether or not these are fit for you:
- Cashier- Deals with all payments and monetary transactions.
- Baker – a commercial business of baking cakes and treats.
- Retails sales associate- attending to customers and working with the retail department
- Marketing specialist – to focus on the development of strategies for the growth of business
- Influencer – create content across platforms for the promotion of a product, brand, or event.
- Production and management- overlooking events and strategies for smooth growth and success
- Digital marketing- using social platforms to reach a wider audience and promote brands and products
- Operations manager- overlook the flow of procedures and organize and coordinate with other departments
- Software developer- creation and development of software for various companies.
- Content writer- the creation of textual content for companies, websites, reading material, and more.
Conclusion
There are a million tips and tricks on what jobs you can apply for. The career field is vast with numerous options. With a lot to choose from, keep these pointers in mind to lead you to a quality and exciting job that you will find favorable!
FAQs
- What jobs avoid external communication?
There is no definite list. There are multiple options on jobs that avoid external communication. However, the two main branches where you will find less to no external communication are individual professions and internal systems. Individual professions such as artists, self-businesses have less external communication to do. Internal systems, as the name suggests, work behind the scene or within the company. External communications are usually a separate department altogether unless you’re working in a social field like the press or call-centers and so on.
- Which is better? Higher positions at common companies or lower positions at renowned companies?
Both have their pros and cons. It ideally depends on where you stand in achieving your goal. If popularity and larger companies are your aims, go for lower positions. You can build your way up eventually. That’s the longer but also the long-term investment in your career. Alternatively, if you’re looking for immediate earnings and getting independent, it’s better to take the higher positions at smaller companies. Chances are that your experience may help you get into bigger organizations. However, it will be tougher. If you just want a stable and permanent job, it’s better to go for common companies.
- Should I decide what job to choose through aptitude tests?
Yes! Aptitude tests are a great idea to plan your career path. They can help narrow down your search for jobs. Note that your aptitude test can only help you to choose a career. Finding a job in that career requires your assessment. Consider factors that affect your performance and weigh those to choose which job suits you best!
