For many people, getting a job that offers enough money can be a hard step in-and-of itself. If you’re past that hurdle, however, you need to start looking at the next goal: finding a job that can lead to a real career. Here, we’re going to look at what you need beyond the paycheck if you’re taking a career-minded approach to employment.
Security
The kind of security your job offers can come in a lot of ways. There’s the financial security of a good paycheck and benefits, to begin with. Beyond that, however, you need to consider how secure your place in the position is. If there are twenty other people doing your job, it’s too easy for an employer to get rid of you as and when it’s convenient. Besides finding roles that are specifically suited to your niche skills and training, you can look into ways of making yourself indispensable at work. By becoming overly familiar with the conventions of the workplace, or even developing your own solutions and processes to make your job easier, you can become much more valuable and, thus, more secure.
Progression
Is there a career ladder for you to climb up or are you going to be doing what you’re doing for years to come? Some people are happy working in a dead-end job, but if you expect better compensation and authority down the line, then you can’t afford to be stuck in one. Some of the signs of a dead-end job include doing the exact same things for several months on end or seeing no-one else in your position getting a promotion for years.
Training
Your work doesn’t necessarily have to provide training and education itself, but it does have to facilitate it. It’s a lot easier to continue your education with online programs that can help you pursue things like a criminology and policing degree in your spare time. If you work in a police station, for instance, your employer should be willing to either help you acquire further training or to at least encourage it. Workplaces that discourage your opportunity to learn new skills and gain certifications might be trying to simply keep you in one position, which isn’t good for your career in the long-term.
Balance
It’s easy to suggest that we all need time off, but if your work constantly gets in the way of your chill time in the morning and evenings, it can derail your life. Constant overtime is shown not only to cause stress and worsen your mood considerably but even makes you less productive at work. Workplaces that don’t allow you to maintain a work-life balance aren’t just expecting you to go the extra mile, they lack a fundamental understanding in what makes an engaged employee and a successful workplace culture.
If climbing the career ladder isn’t as important to you, then you still need to make sure that your job offers security and balance. Consider the tips above the next time you get an offer and ensure that you’re getting everything you need.
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