Career thinking often involves what can feel like conundrums or dilemmas; choices between alternatives which can feel difficult to make. One such ‘career conundrum’ I encounter quite often in my conversations with students relates to weighing up the question of ideal job versus ideal location. What if you want or need to live in a particularly geographical location but your ideal sector doesn’t exist there? Or are interested in a sector you’re passionate about but this would involve moving to an area you don’t want to live in?
Here's a few thoughts on how to approach – if not completely ‘resolve’ – this ‘career conundrum’.
• Ask yourself ‘what one thing is most important to me in my career right now’? Asking myself this question really helped me when I was looking to buy a house and trying to decide whether to stay close to the city centre, which was more expensive, or move out of the centre to areas which were cheaper. Asking myself this question helped me realise that my priority for now was to stay close to the city centre; my priorities might change later on and this is fine.
• Listen to what your gut is telling you about what you most need in your next career move. Pros and cons lists can be great – and I certainly used them in my house-hunting decision-making – but so can listening to what your heart is telling you.
• Rather than thinking about this in terms of a black and white, binary choice, think about how you can flex your thinking or think more creatively. Are there jobs in your chosen location that are similar to your ‘ideal’ role or sector? Is doing your idea job in a different sector possible? Use mind-mapping to map out ideas you might not have thought about before, and you might well hit on careers that meet some of your priorities, if not all.
• If you really want or need to live in a particular geographical area but career opportunities feel limited, ask yourself what your maximum commuter distance would be. Broadening out the area you’d be willing to work in might open up significantly more opportunities. Research transport options and costs. If there are organisation you’d like to work for but commuting every day would feel too much, contact Bath alumni working there and ask about the organisation’s approach to hybrid working. Bath alumni could also provide useful insights not what living in a particular area or town is actually like; it might need your needs more than you think.
• Job-hunting in specific geographical locations can take a little bit of proactivity and creativity. Use Chambers of Commerce and Local Enterprise Partnership websites to source lists of local companies and info on the local labour market. Local council websites can be useful here too. Relevant professional bodies will often have directories of organisations which can be searched by location, and may have regional forums and events which are useful for networking. LinkedIn and the library company databases are also great tools for generating lists of companies in particular sectors and locations. You can use speculative cover letters to contact companies directly and ask if there are opportunities available.
As with all career conundrums, we’re always happy to be sounding boards for your ideas. Pop in and see us in the Careers Centre anytime Monday-Friday, 10-4.
Respond
