By Chris Platts. Chris is the the founder of Talent Rocket, a new web app connecting talented people to inspiring companies.
Jobs are dying out
What are we going to remember jobs for?
‘Bringing misery to the human population for 5 days of the week’ or perhaps ‘misleading people into the illusion of so-called job security’.
Jobs, as we know them, are dying out. After decades of having to choose between a career and a balanced life, people are now looking for effective ways to combine these two important parts of a happy life. Fulfilment is fast becoming the main priority for many of us.
It’s fair to say we hate all the j-word. As Dan Pink notes in his excellent book on human motivation Drive, labelling something as a job invariably turns what could be a fulfilling task into a chore requiring willpower and external motivators (usually money). Even something that could be enjoyed on it’s own, suddenly make it part of a job all of the fun get’s sucked out of it.
Traditionally jobs have been the main way to support ourselves financially however this reliance is becoming less significant. As modern society evolves we are becoming more adept at creating other income streams therefore reducing our reliance on working in a permanent job until retirement. Whether it’s making things in our spare time and selling them on Etsy, trading items on Ebay, renting our house on Airbnb or our parking space. The internet has allowed us to diversify or income streams and give us the luxury of seeking employment that fulfils us not just supports us.
Changing landscapes
New ideas about how to structure organisations are taking hold. Radical concepts such as Holacracy are influencing the way we think about structuring companies and leading people. Someone’s role in an organisation is quickly becoming something you can’t stick down on a job description.
Take job-sharing as another example of the changing world of work, another emerging solution for people which is a team-based approach to work. Job-sharers are two people who fill a full-time position as a team. They work closely together and juggle all tasks necessary with the great advantage of having two (clever) heads and a more diverse skill-set.
What this all points to is that companies are going to find it harder to identify suitable talent going forward. Without a specific job description crib sheet to work from we’ll be looking for intelligence, adaptability and behavioural competencies over specific experience. Most of all though we’ll be looking for cultural fit with our companies values. Conversely since candidates are less tied to financial motivators they can be more ruthless when choosing a company that aligns with their own identity.
Changing perceptions
As talented professionals, one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is whether we consider ourselves to be in a job, a career or a calling. Studies by Yale Psychologist Amy Wrzesniewski have shown that how you approach your work directly affects your level of job satisfaction and determine the meaning you find in employment.
The following demonstrates the point: One person might say, “I am laying bricks,” a second might say, “I am building a wall,” and a third might say, “I am creating a cathedral.” All three share the same day-to-day labor, it is the perspective that differs.
Do you feel deeply fulfilled by the job you do? Just to clarify – ‘my job fulfils me because it means I can pay the rent’ – is not fulfilment.
We all know people who are career orientated but what about calling orientated? How aligned is your current company with your own values and beliefs? Would you do what you do if you didn’t get paid for it?Here at Talent Rocket we’re challenging you to redefine what you do for a living.
Life is too short to be one of the 70% of workers that hate their jobs. There’s no doubt that those of us who are career orientated are generally happier than those who work to live. Career fulfilment comes from being challenged to grow. It comes from being outside of your comfort zone.
Finding your calling
A calling is knowing that what you’re doing really matters to the world around you. The work you do is aligned with your own personal values and is congruent with your philosophy on what life is about. These aren’t necessarily exclusive categories: someone with a calling orientation may also desire a good salary and benefits—but individuals with a calling orientation are more likely to say that they would do their job even if they weren’t paid.
A calling or true ‘career happiness’ is defined by the combination of 3 things.
Passion – Stuff I like to do and am actually interested in
Strengths – Stuff I can actually do and am pretty darn good at
Purpose – Stuff that I believe makes a difference in the world or contributes in a positive way to someone other than myself
So many of us chose the path ahead out of fear disguised as practicality. We take the safe route and climb the career ladder. What we really want seems so impossibly out of reach, so ridiculous to expect so we never pursue it. However you can fail at what you don’t want so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
Don’t look for a job. Find a company that is aligned with your personal values. One which allows you to learn and grow. Only then will you have the right environment for your talent to truly soar.
Talent Rocket is killing off job boards and pesky recruiters by connecting talented people directly with companies they want to work for? Find companies that align with your values and start building a relationship with them. Get started today, for free!