What would you guess is one of the most important factors to consider when considering a career change?
- Skills? Yes.
- Interests? Uh-huh.
- Opportunities for growth? For sure.
Those are all good answers. But when I talk to clients about their employment history and ask about which jobs they enjoyed most, do you know what part of their job they almost always focus on?
People.
The people component outweighs the other factors, nine times out of ten. My client’s faces light-up when they recall the wonderful boss who mentored them and their voices tense as they describe the nasty co-worker who made their life a living hell. Yes, they discuss job content and salary and the opportunities they had for learning. But, at the end of the day, the people they worked with determine whether they rank the job a success or a failure.
Love the people, love the job. Hate the people, hate the job. After coaching clients for over fourteen years I’ve learned that the “who” of your work matters. It matters a lot more than most people realize.
So, let me ask you. Who are your people?
- What types of personalities bring out the best in you?
- What are the values, interests and abilities that you most admire in others?
Knowing who you most enjoy working with can help you focus in on careers that attract like-minded thinkers. If you long to be around creative personalities, than advertising or visual arts or theatre might be your best fit. If you crave a strong intellectual component to your work, than you might be happiest working for a university or think-tank. If you prefer nurturing personalities, than a job as an elementary school teachers, social worker or nurse might be in your future.
One of the reasons I love my work so much is because my fellow career professionals are some of the nicest, smartest and most genuine people I’ve ever met. Whenever I go to a career conference, I walk away feeling energized and appreciated. It doesn’t mean that I love every career coach that I meet, but I sure as heck like them a whole lot more than the guys I worked with while employed at an air freight company.
So, let me ask you again, what type of people do you want to be around? Whatever is most important to you about the people you work with, define it — and then go find them.
Life is too short to do anything less.