One of the most common themes we hear when students come in for careers guidance is
'How will I know when a job is right for me? What if I go for something and when I get there, I turn out to hate it?'
Well, this morning I saw the results of a survey carried out by Reed, the recruitment specialists, published in the RI5 site. There was plenty I frankly disagreed with - apparently, the indicators of career success are to have your own office, a designated parking space and a salary of £56K.
But that, actually, is the whole point. Although I didn't feel that those things would signal career success, some people do. We are all individuals, with different values and motivations, and therefore success looks very different for some, than others. And when you dig deeper into the survey, actually you see that reflected in the results:
The top list of factors indicating ‘career success’:
Earning in excess of £56,000 a year
Seven weeks’ annual leave
Managing a team of 11 people
Attending five business lunches each month
Allowed to attend two leisure days each month
Put £489.79 on expenses each month
Take at least six UK-based business trips each year
Take at least three business trips abroad each year
The ability to spend seven days with the family each month
Work an 8:45am - 16:37pm day
The ability to work six ‘flexible’ days a month
Having your own office
An excellent pension
Achieving the perfect work/life balance
Owning your own property
A designated parking space
Your own company car
Private healthcare for all family members
Benefit from a bonus scheme
Having your own PA / secretary
So, if any of you reading this are trying to work out what you want from your future, I thought this list might be a useful tool to get a handle on your motivations. Does it look like your idea of success? Which indicators ring true for you?
Try and build up your own list of 'career success indicators'. The things you would like your job, or study opportunity, to offer you - now or in the future.
Of course, doing that won't immediately tell you what your 'dream job' is. But you will be nearer to working out what your dream looks like.
For a next step, try coming in to book a guidance appointment with a Careers Adviser to start putting flesh on the bones of your career dream. Or if that seems a bit scary, have a go at our online guidance tools, which will suggest jobs that they think might match your values and motivations. You'll soon feel more in control, and more confident that the jobs you're going for are the right ones for you.
For the full article about the survey, please see: http://www.ri5.co.uk/site/news/article/workers-set-out-what-career-success-means-to-them/#sthash.0Jw6rupi.dpuf
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