Curiosity (not passion) will get you your next great job. Here’s why…

When you’re looking for a new job or stuck in a job you don’t like, sometimes it can feel like your world is closing in.

By this I mean you can feel like you’ve run out of ideas about what you want to do, what you can do, the type of organisations where you can add value, and or people whom you can talk to about your next move.

I am about to give you inspiration about where you can tease out the next opportunity for yourself, and no I am not about to tell you to think about and pursue what you’re passionate about.

The reason I say this is that sometimes focusing on what you’re passionate about may mean that you’ll end up doing very little work on pursuing your next job.

It sounds counter intuitive, but here’s what typically happens.

It’s hard to know what you’re passionate about if you’ve not experienced anything like it.

If you’re too disengaged in your work, the idea of finding major inspiration around it may be too hard.

That new perfect role (that’s going to tick all the passion boxes) can also seem like a long way off, and therefore even the thought of the amount of energy required to make a move seems exhausting.

So you could easily give up and stay doing the same old thing, or to look for a job in the same old way and start to get depressed by your lack of progress.

My pet theory about putting some sass into your search if you are experiencing this scenario is pretty simple but actually based on proven theories about job searching and finding jobs that you enjoy.

Think about what you are curious about in your job and find a way to explore that.

Don’t focus so much what you’re passionate about just what you’re interested in. (That interest by the way, does not need to be inside of work – it could actually be a hobby)

A clue to this curiosity might be that thinking about that topic gives you energy, or it might be a task or an interest that you gravitate to before any other.

There is actually a career coaching theory that includes this idea. That’s the career theory of planned happenstance developed by renowned career psychologist John D. Krumboltz. I have mentioned this before on the blog here.

It’s the idea that growth and change comes from engaging in a variety of different and beneficial activities. The theory says that if you stay aware of your reactions when you are involved in these new activities it can help define your interests or your next move. You’ll also learn new skills and make valuable new contacts.

The making contacts part of this equation is crucial here.

This is because there is research that says that in your job hunt your loose ties can be big allies.

2016 research run by LinkedIn’s data team on 3 million people in the US who job hopped 1-3 times since 2014 showed that referrals that led to jobs were more likely to come from someone’s second degree connections.

So instead of getting your next job through people that you know closely, the research suggests that it’s more likely to be from people who know you through someone else.

If you find yourself feeling stuck on what to do next, start with examining what you’re curious about at work then find a way to make some connections with people who can provide you information and advice around that topic.

Following your curiosity has to be a far more satisfying way to find a job than simply submitting your resume online.

Engaging with people who love their job can be really infectious.

It puts you in control of your job search, rather than competing with thousands doing the same thing.

Research shows that where someone makes a referral of an applicant to an employer, that this referred person is much more likely to be hired 5 times more likely in fact, than someone coming from a job board or other sources.

I am working on an exciting new service that will help you avoid applying for jobs online, follow your curiosity and do something that is going to lead you to something far more satisfying.

If you’d like to hear about it (and get great tips to help you with your job search) get onto my email list by clicking here.