When it comes the time to find a new career, you might need to ask yourself some complex questions.

While it might be tempting to jump at the first job that offers you a great salary, it is important to remember that your job will have a huge impact on your personality, identity, and lifestyle.
Working for a company that isn’t a cultural fit will eventually weigh on you, and you will find yourself unhappy with your circumstances shortly after.

You need to do some soul searching and figure out what you want out of life. If you are ready to find the career of your dreams, then you need to come up with a solid plan of attack. Here is a look at five questions that you should ask yourself before you send out any resumes.

1 What do I want out of my career?

This could be one of the most important questions that you can ask yourself when you are searching for a new job. Different life stages command different goals and you need to think about what your goals will be in the coming years.

For many young professionals who want to start families soon, becoming financially stable is the most important factor to consider. Others will want a job that is emotionally or intellectually fulfilling. Once you have thought about your midterm goals, it will be much easier to narrow your job search. You will also be able to identify red flags during the interview process if the position doesn’t align with those goals. Jumping headfirst into a position might tempt many people, but that could set you back by quite a few years.

2 What are my core values?

Some individuals never even consider how their core values will impact their careers. Everyone hopes that they will work for a company that will make the world a better place, but that isn’t always true. If your core values align with those of the company, you will more likely have a job there that is a great fit.

Core values vary for everyone. Maybe you prioritise positive attitude or respect, or flawless customer service is more important to you. Whatever your core values are, search for a company that shares at least some of them. You might even object to working in certain industries and picking apart your core values will allow you to avoid potentially unhealthy positions. At the very least, you need to consider the company’s culture before you accept a position. During your interviews, try learning more about the company’s culture from the interviewer. A company that allows its moral compass to fall by the wayside while pursuing bigger profits might not be the place you’d want to work for, or you might thrive in those types of situations.

3 What kind of professional development would I like in the coming years?

No one wants to accept a position that will cause stagnating skills. Even if it seems like a particular field is set in stone, there will always be room for improvement. From programming to insurance claims, you should be able to learn new skills in any position as long as you find the right environment to work in. Write exactly what type of professional development you would like to achieve in your next career. You might also want to list off all of your current skills and strengths. Writing that information down will help you build a better resume and improve your interview skills.

4 Is this position going to satisfy me?

People jump from career to career when they are not satisfied. Everyone will experience at least a few dull and unfulfilling periods, but your job should satisfy you most of the time. If your current position doesn’t satisfy you, then it is time to think about what you are hoping to achieve through your career. While setting and achieving professional goals is very rewarding, but that attitude isn’t universal. Most times, repetition destroys passion, and that is why you might want to look at positions that will constantly present you with new challenges.

Others lose their passion because of overbearing team leaders, and the best way to avoid those types of jobs is to speak with current employees before you accept any new offer.

5 What are the must-haves of my next career move?

This is another important question that you should think about. You might have very specific requirements for your next job, and you must outline those must-haves early on. It might be the ability to work from home so you can spend as much time with your family members as possible. That flexibility is very appealing to most employees, and lucky enough, quite a few companies are now creating full-time remote positions. Others who are on the job hunt could look for smaller companies that are vibrant and positive. Whatever your requirements are, write them down.
Constantly reminding yourself of those must-haves will reduce your risk of taking a position that you’ll regret later on.

Everyone wants to have a fulfilling career, but you will also need to think about logistics and finances. If you have relatively few responsibilities, then it will be much easier to pull up your roots and move to your dream job. Unfortunately, that isn’t an option for some people, and those individuals will need to spend some extra time figuring out what is most important to them.

Conclusion

Finding the perfect work-life balance should be one of your primary goals, and many great companies are now going to great lengths to ensure that their employees can strike that balance.

Ashley Wilson is a professional writer, blogging mostly about business and tech. She has been known to reference Harry Potter quotes in casual conversation and enjoys baking homemade treats for her husband and their two felines, Lady and Gaga. You can get in touch with Ashley via Twitter.