Identifying the right career for you can be challenging and requires a lot of research and self-reflection. Some studies suggest that 99% of people believe they have the wrong careers. This staggering figure is the main reason behind job dissatisfaction, stress, burnout, and general frustration regarding work. Many people feel stuck in jobs that don’t match their skills and can’t give their productive best. If you’re still job-hunting, it’s important to focus on what you’re good at instead of what will put food on the table. Doing this will make you more fulfilled in your position and less overwhelmed by tasks. Use these tips to determine what jobs match your skills.

“Identifying the right career for you

can be challenging.

Use these tips to determine what

jobs match your skills.”

Image Credit

Take a skills assessment quiz

Start a complete skills assessment to help uncover hidden talents and give you an in-depth view of your capabilities. Several skills assessment tests, tools, and even games are available online. They can help you learn more about your skill set and even guide you to career options, jobs, and professions that suit you. Once you clearly understand your skills, you can conduct specific keyword-related searches when job hunting. For example, instead of looking for job titles, you can search for what jobs need specific skills you have. Doing this will widen your search options and even lead you to positions and fields you didn’t know you qualified for.

Create a skills inventory

Create an inventory or resume highlighting your qualifications, experiences, accomplishments, and interests. Keep this document with you whenever you’re searching for a job. You can refer to it when evaluating job matches and suitability by comparing the role’s requirements to your skills. That will mean critically assessing your skills, interests, and qualifications. As mentioned previously, a skills assessment quiz can help you. But you can also consider taking an interest inventory assessment designed to examine your interests and match them up with potential jobs. For example, you can use tests like the Strong Interest Inventory assessment to gain a clearer insight into your interests or what activities you prefer.

Perfect keyword searching

You’ll have better job-hunting results when you focus more on keyword searches in line with your skill set instead of looking for job titles. But it would help if you nailed such searches to get the best results, and you can only do that by learning how to conduct a keyword search.

You’ve already identified your skills. Now, search for terms describing your skill set to find matching roles. For example, instead of searching for app development jobs, focus on openings that need computing skills.

“You’ll have better job-hunting results

when you focus more on keyword searches

in line with your skill set instead of

looking for job titles.”

Ask your connections

If you already have a job but are considering leaving, ask your colleagues about your strengths as an employee. Sometimes, what you think are your skills and strengths isn’t what others see. Asking people you trust is a good way to know more about yourself. Let someone else tell you instead of assuming you’re good at something. And who better than those you’ve worked with? You can also ask your employer, supervisor, or immediate boss to write a recommendation letter highlighting your skills. That serves two purposes. One, it will let you know what skills to prioritize while searching for a new job. Two, it proves you’re a good asset to any organization based on the highlighted skills.

Optimize job search engines

It’s also important to optimize job search engines for the right opportunities. But before you can do that, you must understand how the job market operates and what recruiters usually use in job listings. Start by researching specific qualifications, skills, and job titles relevant to your desired positions you want. Next, please pay attention to the stated or listed skills in each job requirement and match them with yours. Because while some job titles may sound like your ideal job, you may not have the specifically stated skills. Also, after researching the relevant skills most job postings or recruiters seek, add them to your resume and cover letter. Of course, you must ensure that you possess those skills and not just add them to your resume to attract recruiters.

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Apply for relevant internships and volunteering opportunities

This option may sound ideal if you already have enough experience in your chosen field. But if you’re fresh out of school with no job experience, internships and volunteering are excellent ways to gain relevant experience. Even better, they can help increase your chances of getting a job that fits perfectly. Research companies or organizations that align with your career goals and interests. Find out if they have openings or opportunities for internships and volunteer work and apply. You’ll be able to gain the hands-on experience you need in your desired field.

6 Ways To Determine What Jobs Match Your Skills