Regardless of whether you are fresh out of high school or are tired of your current role and are considering alternative career options, finding your ideal career path is a worthy aspiration. In short, everyone wants to know how to find a career you love. 

We spend the majority of our days working so it’s important to find a job where we feel safe, valued, and fulfilled. Sometimes it can feel difficult to know how to find a job you like, never mind how to figure out what you want to do as a career. 

In this article, we provide key tips and strategies for how to find your career. So if you’re interested in how to find a career you love, read on for our practical “how to find the right career for me” guide. 

Finding a career you love: a pipe dream or realistic ambition?

Are you wondering how to figure out what you want to do for a career? Finding a new career can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, there are lots of available resources designed for this exact purpose: career aptitude tests, internships, volunteer opportunities, job shadowing opportunities, networking events, online job forums, and informational interviews. 

Finding your ideal career isn’t a one-stop journey. It’s a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness that requires careful reflection and deliberation. The way to know how to find what career you want is to ask yourself what your talents are and how they can be used to support your values and passions. For some, this could mean starting a side hustle they’re passionate about that eventually they can pursue full-time.

Why it’s important to find a job you love

How do I find a job I like? 

We’ve all asked ourselves this question at one time or another. Generally speaking, when you dislike your job, you feel less satisfied with other aspects of your life as well. There are lots of career changers out there.

Regardless of how ambitious or career-driven you are, it’s important to know how to find what you love doing, for the sake of your physical and mental well-being. Let’s take a moment to look at 3 key reasons why it’s important to find a job you love.

01

Careers are demanding of your time and energy

As previously mentioned, careers are incredibly demanding of your time and energy. You deserve to enjoy something that you consistently invest so much time and energy into. Forty hours a week adds up and chances are you are spending even more time thinking about your job and work-related responsibilities outside of work. 

02

It’s important to achieve a healthy work-life balance

If you actively dislike your work, chances are your time off will be filled with stress and anxiety. This is why it is important to know how to find the work you love. People who enjoy their jobs can achieve a healthier work-life balance and generally have more energy to devote to their well-being, personal relationships, and outside interests and hobbies. You deserve to know how to do what you love — for the sake of your time, energy, and well-being. 

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03

It’s empowering to have a sense of purpose ​

It feels empowering to pursue work you value and have a greater sense of purpose. People whose jobs are in alignment with their values tend to find more satisfaction, both inside and outside of the workplace. Furthermore, people who are passionate about engaging in professional development experience tremendous momentum; this helps prevent them from feeling stagnant or bored. 

How to find a career you love in 7 steps: career finding tips that work

If you’re focused on “finding the right career for me,” you’ve come to the right place! Follow these 7 steps to know “how to find a career for me.”

01

Identify your talents

What are you naturally good at? What have you been successful at in the past, either inside the classroom or within a previous job role? Consider some of the following skills and competencies: customer service, written and verbal communication, creativity, organization, leadership, public speaking, active listening, conflict resolution, empathy, etc. 

02

Identify your interests, passions, and values

Now, ask yourself what you are interested in. What are your passions and values? Your talents need to work in alignment with your passions.

For example, maybe you excel at written communication. Based on this skill, you could be well-suited for a newspaper job. Maybe, though, you prefer something a bit more creative and have always had a love of gardening. In that case, maybe you could be happier if you find a job writing articles for a gardening website. 

03

Reflect on your ideal work environment and schedule

Reflect on what your ideal work environment and schedule entails. Do you work best with structure or flexibility? Do you prefer working alone or on a team? Where do you want to live and work? How long of a commute are you comfortable with? Are you a morning or a night person? Do you have scheduling conflicts at your current job you’d like to avoid? 

04

Conduct research and explore job opportunities

Join online job forums. Use the messaging feature. Find job fairs and networking opportunities near you. Research potential internships, volunteer opportunities, and classes related to your career interests. You may even consider consulting a career counselor. 

05

Engage in networking opportunities

Networking is a powerful skill and is a crucial aspect of any successful career. Attend classes and conferences related to your interests. It’s important to get to know other people in your ideal field. Introduce yourself and strike up a few conversations. Learn from your peers what’s possible in your prospective field. Not only will this provide you with valuable career advice, but it may even lead to a few job leads!

06

Gain practical experience

Once you’ve figured out your career goals, it’s time to start gaining experience. Depending on your field, this could entail going back to school, developing new skills, becoming an intern, or gaining various certifications. 

07

Update your resume and practice your interview skills

Now it’s time to update your resume (and LinkedIn profile) and practice your interview skills. In today’s job market, it’s especially important to know how to optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Use straightforward formatting and include plenty of keywords. Always tailor your resume to the job listing. Then you’re on your way to finding the perfect job for you! 

Need professional help finding a job you love? Contact Prepory

Career counselors can offer valuable insight and guidance into career fields and the job search process. Regardless of whether you need help polishing your resume or could benefit from further developing your interview skills, here at Prepory, we have the resources to help you reach your goals. So if you’re wondering how to find a job you love that pays well, reach out to learn more about our services.

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Final points on how to find your career

It can feel intimidating to choose a new career path. That said, we spend the majority of our time at work so it’s important to enjoy your job. Finding a fulfilling career will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance and prioritize your personal relationships while having a greater sense of purpose. The key takeaway here is to engage in consistent self-reflection and to remember that finding your ideal career is an evolving process.

FAQs

Still have questions? Review these frequently asked questions for further insights into the job search process. 

Regardless of where you are in your career, it’s important to know how to write a work email. 

Knowing how to write a professional email for a job can be key during your job search and networking process. It’s also important to know how to write a professional email to your boss. 

Writing emails is a common form of communication in today’s workplace. Likely, at some point during your career, you will have to write a thank you email after a job interview or email your manager to ask for time off of work. You may even choose to write a cold email for a job during a job search. 

Learning how to write professional emails at work and how to write a professional job application email are valuable skills. Like with any other skill, cultivating good emailing habits takes practice. In this article, we will share 10 helpful tips for learning how to write an email for work. 

10 helpful tips to follow when writing a work email

A professional, well-written email can help you delegate more efficiently, communicate your needs effectively, and demonstrate your overall communication and organizational skills. Ideally, a work email should be clear and concise, with actionable steps. 

If you are wondering how to create a professional business email, choose something very plain and straightforward. Usually, work email addresses will be some version of your name, such as DanielFoster@gmail.com or Michelle_Gray@gmail.com. Having a professional email address is key when learning how to write a professional email asking for a job.

If you are actively working on your workplace communication skills and want to know more about how to write a professional work email, read on for key writing tips and guidelines.  

01

Use a meaningful subject line

One of the most important factors to consider when learning how to write a work email or how to write a professional email for a job application is to choose a meaningful subject line. Writing a meaningful subject line could make the difference between being read and being deleted. Keep this in mind as you draft your email. Choose a subject line that is clear, concise, and reflective of the overall content of the email.

02

Choose an appropriate greeting

Avoid informal and overly formal greetings. A simple “hello” or “hi” is appropriate. Be sure to address the email recipient correctly. If you are wondering how to write a professional email with your resume attached, you may want to air on the side of formality and include their full job title. 

03

Be concise and succinct

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Do your best to be clear and concise. Avoid filler words, such as: “just,” “actually,” “basically,” “very,” “really,” and “in order to.” It’s also important to eliminate unnecessary details and cut out general wordiness. 

Simplify your verbs. This will help you lower your word count. For example, instead of writing “I am feeling overwhelmed,” write “I feel overwhelmed.” Instead of writing “she seems to be content,” write “she seems content.”

Here are some other common phrases that can be simplified:

  • “Due to the fact that” (use “because” instead)
  • “It’s probable that” (use “probably” instead)
  • “With the exception of” (use “except” instead)
  • “At the present time” (use “now” or “presently” instead)
04

Make your email easy to skim

Organization is key. Write brief, straightforward paragraphs. Consider using lists and bullet points to help convey necessary steps. 

Ideally, your emails should be easy to skim. If your email is too wordy, the recipient may become confused or miss important details. Only write what is strictly necessary. 

05

Don’t use informal language, slang, or emojis

It’s important when you are learning how to write a professional email to a company to avoid informal language, slang, and emojis. This will likely undermine your credibility. Use work emails to demonstrate your communication, writing, organizational skills, and professionalism.

06

Avoid using jargon

Avoid using industry-specific or company-specific jargon, especially if you are emailing someone outside of your industry or company. Do your best to use simple, direct phrasing. This will help prevent confusion and any potential miscommunications. It’s better to write one clear email than to write several follow-up emails. It’s also best to write out any acronyms. 

07

Choose a standard font

Always use a standard font that is easy to read. Do not use a “fancy” font that is difficult to read. Use a standard font size and do not use colored ink.

08

Be kind and thank them for their time

Always be courteous and thank the email recipient for their time. Avoid passive aggressive phrases, such as “per my last email” or “as previously discussed.” It’s important to be brief and concise, but this should not be at the expense of kindness and professionalism. Similarly, you don’t need to be overly gratuitous, but you should acknowledge the fact that the email recipient is taking time to correspond with you.

09

Choose an appropriate closer

For most work emails, avoid overly formal closers, such as “sincerely.” A simple “thank you” or “best regards,” works well. Be sure to include your full name, job title, and any other relevant details in your signature.  

10

Proofread your email

Always proofread your email. Not only are typos unprofessional, but they can also be confusing and lead to larger miscommunications. Reread your emails before pressing send to make sure they are accurate and error-free. 

While rereading your email, make sure you don’t use overly formal punctuation. Excessive commas, colons, and semicolons can come across as being cold. Generally speaking, you also want to avoid using exclamation points and ellipsis in work emails. 

Key takeaways and moving forward

Emailing is an important form of communication in today’s workplace and learning how to write a work email takes practice. This is especially true as more and more workers pursue fully remote and hybrid work models. 

The next time you have to write a professional email, review our 10 tips above for key insights into the writing process. If you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance, reach out to learn more about our services.