Things to Consider when looking for a Job

As one who is in search of a dream job, the task of searching is made easy only if there is a better understanding of what you are passionate about, kind of job to search for and also what hiring managers look for when assessing their potential employee. 

This reason explains why about 2% of job seekers actually get interviews. 

In this article, we will look into the secrets of securing a job and also the experiences of a hiring manager and writer. 

Also, things that should be remembered when searching for a job will be shared as it concerns the potential it holds for futuristic jobs for Nigerians around the world.

Deciding What Career Path to Pursue

Reports from a social media platform known as LinkedIn, a survey carried out from 8,000 professionals, ‘about 30% of global workers say that they earn a living from their dream job or a related field.’ 

This is a proof that candidates can learn something from their child-selves. 

While I was young, I wanted to become an astronaut. I so imagined myself tromping through the desert landscape of Mars, dressed in a polymer spacesuit and aerodynamic space helmet, getting samples of the soil and musing on the future of humankind. 

However, as I grew older, this dream of mine changed but that ability to imagine the ideal picture for the future stayed intact.

The exploration of space opens doors beyond what can be reasoned at that moment and it helps to see a future beyond the daily grind. This been one of the reasons it is so great that Nigeria had announced itself as a major player in the game. 

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), launched five satellites into space in the year 2003, and just announced its intention about an astronaut to be sent into space by 2030. Nigeria will be the first African country to do so.

What does this means for job seekers?

There are two things involved in this. 

Firstly, this puts to you that jobs in science and technology will be readily more available, especially for the young ones interested in working outside the country. Secondly, it’s an avenue to understand more and also to channel one’s job-seeking ambition. 

Everyone can’t be an astronaut but we can all reach out for jobs in related fields. 

This shouldn’t come as a surprise that you think about careers similar to space science coming to your mind. 

However, astronauts only constitute a few number of space science professionals.

There are opportunities for several other careers and fields in space science in which they include:

1. Geologists
2. Chemists
3. Medical Doctors
4. Radar Technicians
5. Communication Technicians
6. Computer Aided Design (CAD) Operators
7. Drafters
8. Laser Technicians
9. Electricians
10. Quality Assurance Specialists
11. Robotic Technicians
12. Satellite Technologists
13. Astrophysicists
14. Biologists
15. Meteorologists
16. Physicists
17. Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineers
18. Avionics and Instrumentation Engineer
19. Mechanical Engineers
20. Materials Engineers
21. Computer Engineers
22. Robotics Engineers
23. Spacecraft Engineers
24. Telecommunications Engineers

Is your experience all that matters in job seeking?

Understanding your ambition and being focused will surely get you far in job-seeking. It’s all about giving definition to your career goals and being strategic about the application process. 

Another thing which is the next is being able to strategize on how to present your experience in a manner that helps you get in.

Fola Daniel Adelesi’s talk on employability noted that many job seekers in Nigeria face the frustrating situation of being “too qualified” for job positions they applied for. 

When they turn in their Curriculum Vitae (CV), heavy with all their work and study experience. 

They never get a callback from the employer as they seem to them too much of a risk.

However, widely experienced applicants have being able to tweak their CVs so as to meet the specific requirements for the job. 

This is one of things job seekers should learn to do as it can be achieved. When applying for a job, ensure that the CV fits the requirements of that particular job. 

Begin by looking for a way to frame your experience in a way that makes it relevant to the position you intend applying for. If you worked in a sales shop or store, this means you should have Management experience but if some your experience isn’t relevant, it should be left out.

A CV is just a first impression and it shouldn’t be more than a single page. 

You are not compelled to cram it all in your resume. 

Wooing your prospective employer with your knowledge should be done during the interview. 

However, keep it in mind that most jobs want candidates they can train. Showing off too much might put you out automatically from securing the job.

Never take things for granted

You can still draw up your plan of how you intend spending your income even while you are still searching for a job. An important aspect of choosing a career and starting down the path to landing one’s dream job is to be sure of happiness budget. 

This means that you are to reflect on how you save and spend money while optimizing for happiness. Career ambition is of value and same as your life outside work but either of the two can get out of control if not balanced with the rest of life. 

Logan Eldridge defines seven ways to budget for happiness as setting aside money for expenses so it’s not a huge stress later, to making time for creative growth.

Think about the big picture

As a job seeker, you should always focus on the big picture. 

Just as a space program expands one’s ideas of self and the universe, securing a job requires an applicant to think beyond the self. 

Try putting yourself in the position of the hiring manager, thinking on how to respond after setting an appointment to conduct an interview for a candidate and the person shows up late? 

You would probably pass such over for the job. 

Therefore, you should do well to have this at heart through the application and interview process.

When I was a hiring manager, candidates I responded to best were the ones who respected my time, clear and brief CVs, kept appointments, and replied so quickly while we conversed.

 It said a lot about the kind of employee they would be. 

In essence, you should equip yourself well as the job market continues to evolve, you will be in for a bigger and better adventure than you can or have ever imagined.