Getting Your Perfect Work

Dear Joan,

How can someone like me get a reasonably good-paying job with limited computer skills? Even though I am going back to college, it is still hard to get a job with skills to grow. I have tried temporary agencies, but I am finding them none to helpful. This depresses me more than you know.

Donna T.

Dear Donna,
Unfortunately, "someone like me" does not really tell me anything about you. Your age, work experience, general education to date, natural talents, skills, what you like and don't like to do, or what you call "'a reasonably good paying job."

If you are just looking for a job to make money temporarily while you go the college and develop computer or other marketable skills, waiting on tables in a mid- to upper-priced restaurant can be an excellent way to make good money with flexible hours. Both of my kids waited tables while they were in college and paid most of their own expenses. Of course, great tips depend largely on your cheerfulness and willingness to learn and serve others with enthusiasm. Actually, that is true of almost any job or career!

There is really no getting around the fact that good computer skills are a must in today's world whether you are in business for yourself or working for someone else. You could sell cars, work in a factory or deliver packages part-time for UPS and make a good wage without computer skills, but the real question is:

  1. What do you like and not like to do?
  2. What are your natural talents (gifts)?
  3. What is a career or business area that interests you and is likely to give you long-term personal satisfaction?

If you put time, money, or energy into anything that does not satisfy or lead to fulfillment in these three areas, it is unlikely that you will ever feel well paid or happy with your work.

When I work with people on career planning or career changes, I suggest the following exercise. Divide a page in half top to bottom. On the top of the left side, write "Everything I have ever loved doing and done well." On the top of the right side, write the word "Satisfiers."

On the left side list all the activities you can think of that you have loved doing and done well. Go all the way back to grade school. Across from each activity under "Satisfiers" state all the things about that activity that gave you satisfaction.

When you have filled a page or two take a highlighter and mark all the things that are similar or the same on the satisfier side. These are either your natural talents (gifts) or conditions that need to exist for you to feel fulfilled and satisfied in a job or career.

Take a second page and divide it in half. On the top of the left side, write "Everything I hate to do or do not do well" and on the top of the right side, write "Dissatisfiers." Make lists just as you did on the first page. Again, highlight things which are similar or the same on the dissatisfier side. Now you have a list of activities and conditions which you want to avoid as much as possible in a career or job.

Now make a list of all the kinds of jobs, careers, or industries that you think would give you the most of what you love and the least of what you don't like or do not do well. You may need to go to a career or job counselor to help you evaluate and explore as many job categories as possible. Your college-placement, career-development department should have people who can help you with this.

It is hard to go to school and work a regular job at the same time, but it is worth the effort as long as you know that you will eventually be able to do work or have a career you enjoy and which fulfills your mental, emotional, and physical needs. Good hunting!

Build your own ideal job profile with the Ideal Job Exercise. (A current version of Acrobat Reader is required; get it free at Adobe.com)

 

Joan Bolmer, 2400 Briarwest Boulevard, #1907, Houston, TX 77077; Office 281.293.8864
Copyright (c) 2007-2009, by Joan Bolmer, all rights reserved. Contact Joan Bolmer by e-mail at joan@bolmer.com Website: http://www.bolmer.com Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute this article so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached.