Flexibility and great pay top the list of must-haves for many job seekers
Gone are the days when all office jobs look and feel alike. Many companies are now offering family friendly benefits, remote work, and flexible hours so you can manage the other parts of your life that tug at your time and energy.
The best part? This means that you — as a hardworking, talented results-oriented professional — don’t have to settle for a job that isn’t aligned with the way you want to live. The trick is figuring out which companies offer the right flexibility given the lifestyle you want to have and that also value the results you can deliver so you’ll get paid what you are worth.
First: Envision Your Ideal Lifestyle
Before you can find a great company, you’ll need to consider what it is you actually want.
Is it more time with the kids now that they’re involved in after-school programs? Are you tired of 70+ hour weeks and want to find something with more flexibility? Or is it that long commute that’s been driving you nuts for the last few years and you need a job closer to home (or one you can do at home)?
Start by spending some time thinking about the type of manager, work environment, schedule, location, or other characteristics of a company, its culture, and manager that would help you perform at your best and give you the flexibility to spend time on your other interests.
You can find companies and managers that understand you want time to travel or take opera singing lessons that are only offered on Thursday afternoons.
Next: Evaluate Your Current Job and Skill Set
Once you know the lifestyle you want, it’s time to take a good, hard look at where you are now before you can get where you want to be.
If you love the job you have (you’re paid what you’re worth, you enjoy the work itself, etc.) but other factors like the company culture, poor leadership, or a bad boss are impacting your life in negative ways, you have a few options.
You could discuss modifying a few things with your manager to make going to work each day easier. Maybe that means asking for more flexibility to occasionally leave the office earlier in the day. Or you can seek a new job with another company that offers more flexibility so you can actually live your dream lifestyle now instead of five or even ten years from now.
On the flip side, if you aren’t happy with the work you do at all, it may be time for a career shift. In this case, reviewing your skill set can help you see where your experience and accomplishments may be applicable in a new role. And then start writing the story about how your current skill set is a great match to the new role. You want your resume and LinkedIn profile to be so compelling that you are getting interviews scheduled shortly after applying.
Then: Explore Your Options
Do some digging around. Is there another position within the same company that may work better for you? What other job opportunities are out there currently that might align with your ideal lifestyle? Are there companies you’ve heard about that you’d love to work for?
Researching a variety of paths will not only open your eyes beyond the job you’re in right now, but can present a clearer picture of the steps you’ll need to take in order to achieve the lifestyle you’re seeking.
Finally: Book a call with a Career and Salary Negotiation Coach
I’m Denise Liebetrau, a Career and Salary Negotiation Coach based in Colorado. I started Prosper Consulting to help individuals like you plan their career around the lifestyle you want to lead and to ensure that you are also getting paid what you’re worth. Schedule a free strategy call with me today to ensure that your career is aligned to your values and the lifestyle you crave. And we’ll talk about money too!