Things to look for in a new job

Are you currently thinking of changing jobs? If you are, you may already have a dream job in mind. Although it is nice to dream, it is important that you think practially and rationally. Finding a new job can be difficult, but millions of people do it, including several thousand every day of the year. Let's discuss the things that you may want to look for in a new job.

When searching for a new job, you will want to look for those that are intended to be long-term. Long-term positions are ideal if you are looking to quit your current, stable job. You will want to have and possibly need to have income not only right away, but income that you can rely on for months or years to come. That is why temporary positions can often be troublesome, as a job that only lasts one or two months may be unable to provide you with the security that you want and need. However, temporary positions have their place, if you are learning a new profession, or if you want to give a new career or new company a try. Also, getting a "temp to perm" type job can help you land a full time gig some time in the future.

The possibility of career advancement is another thing that you will want to look for in a new job. If you regularly find yourself setting goals, such as higher pay or a position of more responsibility, you may will want to work for a company where you have the opportunity to advance, either in compenstation levels or in job role. If you are able to, research if the company likes to promote from within. Promotion from within is what gives you a better chance of advancing within that company, and is the hallmark of a good job to have. In fact, advancement is something that potential employers like to hear, so be sure to mention your hope for advancement in your job interviews. If the company isn't interested in having you advance, better to find that out now, than wait several years to find out.

Good, but realistic compensation is something else that you should look for in a new job. If you find yourself being asked to take a pay cut, you need to ask if it's worth it. If you are changing career tracks, or changing industries, maybe it's important. If you are able to receive additional benefits that you currently do not have, a pay cut might turn out to be neutral. Therefore, before you search for a new job, you may want to create a budget for yourself. A budget can help you determine how much money you need to make, in order to be secure. You don't want to have to quit 3 months in to your new job, because you find that you can't afford to keep it.

Other benefits are also important to consider. Not all employers provide their employees with health insurance coverage and many companies have a ninety day waiting period before health insurance coverage can be acquired. You may be able to extend your current health insurance from your old employer, for a monthly fee, but that extended coverage often has time limits and other restrictions, and is often very expensive.

A short commute is another feature that you may want to look for in a new job. Location may not be an issue if you are willing to travel or relocate -- especially if the new company is willing to pay for it. Companies that are far from your home may require extra travel time, possibly taking you away from your family, and increasing the number of hours you "work" without actually increasing the amount you spend being professional. You should also examine the cost of gasoline and wear on your vehicle.

3 Signs you might be working in a dead end job

Do you feel like you are working at a dead-end job right now? If you think that might be, you aren't alone, certainly not by a long shot. However, just because you think that you may currently have a dead-end job, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you do have one. If you want to explore this idea a little further, you may want to continue reading on.

There are many signs that you are in a dead-end job. One of them is if you find yourself in the same position, for seeral years, with no promotion and no change in responsibilities. If you were hired with no hopes or desire for advancement, then your current position may be fine for you. This is fine, lots and lots of people are very happy with this kind of situation, and it's not a big deal -- it's what runs the country. However, just by being here, it would seem that's not what you want. If you have goals and have yet to see those goals and desires realized, it may be a sign of a dead-end job. You should never have your work go unrewarded, either in compenstation, or in some kind of job satisfaction.

A second sign that you may be working a dead-end job has to do with compenstation. If you have been working at the same pay level for several years, then that's a strong sign. If your earning ability hasn't grown, then you probably aren't working in a position that is growing. For instance, no matter how experienced you are at digging ditches, it's highly unlikely that you are worth much more than someone who has no idea the best way to turn the shovel -- the job just isn't worth that much.

There is good news though! If your most pressing issue is your level of compensation, you may be able to turn your dead-end job into a job that makes you happy. You can do this by preparing for and asking for pay raise. Many employers expect this, especially after an extended period of time without a raise; therefore, you may have nothing to lose by at least asking.

The above mentioned signs are just a few of the signs that you may be working a dead-end job. As previously stated, however, it is important to remember that you don’t have to keep on working in what may be deemed as a dead-end job forever. There are lots of steps you can take that will help your sitution. One of those steps involves speaking to your supervisor, manager or mentor, whichever your company has. In today’s society, you will find that not all individuals want the responsibility of a promotion; therefore, you will want to let your supervisors know that you are not one to shy away from more responsibility.

Another one of the many ways that you go about getting out of what you may refer to as a dead-end job is by getting yourself noticed in a positive light. Despite your possible frustration, you may want to consider giving your job, dead-end or not, a second chance. With that second chance though, you are urged to take action. Be sure to do good deeds in front of your supervisors, volunteer to work late or cover someone else’s shift in an emergency or do anything above and beyond your normal course of duty. Your supervisors may believe that you are currently satisfied with your job, and they'd be wrong. You will want to prove to them that you want more and that you are capable of handling more.