What kind of job is right for you?

The meaning of work has changed a lot over time. People devote a lot of time to work, so it is worth asking yourself from time to time: what am I doing all this for? Understanding and acting on your work-related values is the basis for job satisfaction.

Values are ideas, relationships and beliefs that are important to you and make you prefer certain things over others. Values can sometimes be vague, yet they guide your actions and decisions. Important decisions, including career choices, are often based on value judgments. If a job or profession offers you the values you appreciate, you will feel good and comfortable.

Values are not easy to understand and can change over time. For example, what is important to you in your 20s may not be so later. At the beginning of your career, it is worth asking yourself what you really want: what could be the nature and character of your job, the working environment and conditions, and the people around you? If you already have some work experience and have made choices on your career path, you might want to consider what makes you satisfied or dissatisfied. The answers to these questions can give you clues about your work values. Also, think about which values are more important and which are less so. A job that would meet all your values might not exist.

Values drive our joy of work. The pleasure of work comes when you are so committed to what you do that nothing else matters to you at that time.

In summary, the better your work values match the nature of work and the working environment, the more likely you will be satisfied with your job. So, it is worth taking the time to get to know your values.

Besides values, you can read on this website about interests, skills, personal qualities and the links between work and health. All these are important parts of self-awareness that play a role in finding a suitable and rewarding job.

Hobbies and activities of interest are enriching your life – but that is not all. They can also give you an idea of what to study, what aspect to develop further, and where to look for a job.

However, not everything that interests you will inevitably become a job or a career. After all, life is not about work, and pursuing your interests brings balance to life. It is natural for interests to evolve and change over a lifetime; some will disappear, and others emerge. Awareness of what activities make your eyes sparkle helps you shape your life to your liking.

Everyone has used and developed specific skills since childhood. There are no people without skills, there may be just people ignorant of their abilities. A skills analysis helps you understand your skill set and potential more clearly. It will also help you think about what aspects you would like to develop further and make suitable choices in education and in the labour market. Learning is a lifelong process in the rapidly changing world and evolving technologies. Adapting to new circumstances is the norm.

By being aware of what you can do, you can find

• a suitable job in which your skills are needed or
• a training to help you acquire the skills you do not have yet so that you can find a suitable job.

Job advertisements list the knowledge, skills and qualities the employer expects from an applicant. This is why awareness of your skills is essential when looking for and changing jobs. University studies, including traineeships and mobility, support the development of professional knowledge and related technical and academic skills (foreign language and programming skills, using statistics software and laboratory equipment, proper referencing skills, etc.). This will also develop generic skills: communication, negotiation, teamwork, problem-solving, etc.

Generic skills help you cope with new situations and environments, complex challenges and different forms of communication. Generic skills include self-management, analysis, conflict management, adaptability, creative thinking and problem-solving.

The importance of generic skills has increased over time, and employers consider them a key success factor in recruitment and performance. Generic skills also influence how successfully you develop and apply your technical skills. According to the Estonian Qualifications Authority’s labour market forecast, the ideal future employee will have in-depth knowledge of at least one field and the ability to understand and combine other fields and the people involved in them. In addition to mastering their specialisation, the future employee is expected to have a much better command of the so-called soft skills, such as communication skills, understanding different cultures and adapting to them, etc. [1]

The international portal LinkedIn also looks at the importance of generic skills in today’s rapidly changing labour market from the employer’s perspective. The top skill of the moment is adaptability, as the impact of artificial intelligence has changed the world of work faster than previously imagined. According to LinkedIn, the most in-demand generic skills in 2024 are [2]

1. communication,
2. customer service,
3. leadership,
4. project management,
5. management,
6. analytics,
7. teamwork,
8. sales,
9. problem-solving,
10. research.

When planning your career and studies, it is helpful to think about what you are like – what characterises you? Your personality traits can describe your attitudes to studies and work, for example, whether you are an independent learner or analytical, creative, patient, precise, curious, reliable, etc. Think about how you act in everyday life. Think about the personal qualities that have helped you achieve your goals and realise your dreams.

When choosing the workplace, pay attention to the nature of the job and the work environment, how it is managed, and what the relationships and the organisational culture are like. All of this has an impact on your well-being and health. Note that being aware of your health helps you find a job which is more suitable for you and has a better working environment.

Learn how the nature of work, the environment or relationships at the workplace can cause health problems or occupational diseases.