Finding a job you love

Think about what’s important to you

There is no wrong answer to this. We are all very different people with different needs and goals!

If you’re just starting out in the world of work, you might want a job that pays your way, teaches you new skills and still gives you room to live your life.

Perhaps you’re a working parent looking for that bit of extra flexibility in your job?

Or maybe you’re coming out of retirement. In that case, you might be looking for a flexible job with a good social life, plenty of variety and a chance to top up your pension while still giving you the chance to see your family.

Everyone needs different things, so think about what’s important to you.

“I started in McDonald’s because it was part-time. I stayed because of the people. McDonald’s supports you in terms of your training. They train you to exceed what you expected of yourself.”

Meet Afsana

What sort of working environment matches your dream job?

Maybe you love the idea of working in an office, or meeting lots of people as part of your job – either by being face to face with customers or working as part of a big team. You might be someone who likes working with their hands, or someone who likes thinking about tiny details.

There is no wrong answer. Ask yourself these questions to get a better feel for what kind of workplace you’d enjoy.

“My granddaughter’s the reason I came to work for McDonald’s. I’m fully flex. If you need to change your availability you can let McDonald’s know. There’s very, very few companies you can do that with. “

Meet Mandy

What do you feel strongly about?

You might care a lot about certain issues and want to work in a company that helps you give back to society. For example, Youth Friendly Employer McDonald’s invest in the training and professional growth of young people, and have lots of opportunities for charity and community work.

What subjects did you enjoy at school?

If maths or business were your thing, you might enjoy a head office job where you can work with finance or help to shape the direction a company is taking. There are lots of ways to enter a head office job if you have not done this type of work before. For example, you can explore the thousands of business, administration, digital and marketing apprenticeships and work experience opportunities in the UK. Or you can apply for a head office job that helps you work your way up.

If you liked art at school, you don’t have to be an artist. All kinds of jobs need your visual eye. For example, you can work in marketing and think about how images tell a story to help customers feel inspired and comfortable.

Think about how companies like McDonald’s use colour and interior design to make customers feel welcome. There is a team of people helping to make those visual decisions. One day, that could be you.

Think about your skills and strengths

Are you a natural leader who would shine in a manager’s job? Are you an ideas person who wants to be able to make contributions and find new ways of doing things? Are you a people person who knows how to make people feel relaxed?

These are all different and important skills and strengths. We all have our own qualities that we can grow over time.

A dream job comes in many forms, so think about what kind of job would let you build new skills but also give you space to be yourself.

Here are some life and work skills that all employers love:

• Communication
• Self belief
• Self management
• Problem solving
• Teamwork

Which skills do you already have? Which ones would you like to grow? Click the links to watch a short video and find out more.

Remember, these are skills you already have, even if you are new to the world of work. If you are a working parent or coming out of retirement, you also have these skills. You may have learned them in different jobs, but the skills you learned will be important in any job you love.

Browse job boards for inspiration

There are a lot of jobs out there. Some types of job might be perfect for you, even though you never really thought about them before.

Hop on a jobs board, look for jobs you might be interested in, and see how the role is described. Does it sound interesting? Does it sound like something you can already do… or would like to learn?

Think of it as window shopping and just browse around, getting a feel for all the different jobs out there that you might enjoy.

Ask your friends and family for help

Sometimes it’s hard to see our own qualities and we need a little help from our friends.

Ask your friends and family what they think you would be good at and what sort of job they think you would love.

Sometimes they can help you spot inner strengths you didn’t know you had, like being good with people, or being great with little details.

Friends and family might also be working in the kind of job they think you’d enjoy. They can let you know if there is a chance to apply for new jobs coming up in the company.

Expect the unexpected

DID YOU KNOW? Loving something outside of work doesn’t always mean you will love it as a job.

Loving dogs doesn’t mean you would love the hard life of being a vet. Loving football doesn’t mean you can’t be great at lots of other things too. Your dream job might be nothing to do with football, but find a job you enjoy and you will still feel the spark that comes with teamwork, progress and healthy competition!

Finally, don’t give up. Keep your options open, because dream jobs can be found in all kinds of places. If you know what your goals are and what you enjoy in life and work, you are more likely to find a job you love. One that lets you shine, grow and be yourself.