7 Things You Must Know About How To Avoid Dead End Jobs

The most important of the 7 things you must know about how to avoid deadend jobs is to avoid them from the beginning. I have coached a few young adult clients looking for their first “real” job, and they were all desperate to find something, anything. Yet your first career step, if it’s a misstep (meaning wrong fit of job description, organization or boss), could mean a necessary detour at some point down your career path. You might as well get it right from the start.

Here’s how:

Choose a Great Fit.

You may believe you know what a job is going to be like as you grab your diploma. Your major prepared you for it, right?

Probably not, even if you had an internship or two. Don’t take a job just because your major seems to point to it. Remember to look for a job you may have a little bit of fun with, make friends at, feel fulfilled by, at least eventually. Remember your career is about more than money-making, so if you choose a job you don’t like, stay a year, and then move on. You wouldn’t keep wearing jeans that were too tight or shoes that were too loose, right? There may be another job in the same career track that may work. If not, look in another area, and if they say you need more qualifications, go back to get them. It’s better to spend more time in school than being stuck in a job you hate for life.

Network. Online and Face-to-Face.

Pick up the phone. Slather the right sites with your resume or CV. Make sure you include a picture, preferably one that shows you have fun but one you don’t look like you’re having too good a time in. Then start to have lunches with old friends from high school or adults who helped you along the way. Ask them if they know of a job that might fit your qualifications–and your personality. If you know them well enough, ask for a recommendation.

Tell the Truth.

We’re all told not to fib from the time we can talk. Yet you might be surprised at what I’m recommending you tell the truth about here. If you need a job to offer you something, speak up. Need time to take a walk at lunch? Say so. Need to know you’re contributing to a mission? Make sure the company has one. Want to a job that uses your creativity or analytical mind? Make sure they know. Looking for opportunity for promotion? Make sure they know you’re ambitious. Just tell the truth with humility, and don’t expect to get everything you want.

Ask to Meet Your Future Boss.

During one reorganization, my department was disbanded and I was transferred to another department. I knew I wouldn’t be staying very long when my boss called us all in for a meet-and-greet meeting. She was obviously in ill health, and she looked unhappy to see my colleague and me (the two new kids on the block). “I’m a workaholic,” she told us. “I expect you to be. Now go get to work.”

Sometimes life happens, and you get stuck with a boss like this one. However, always, always, always make sure you meet your boss before signing any employment contract. And if you can, meet the other people in your department. Do they look happy? Healthy? Or overwhelmed and disgusted? Ask them what they’re working on, and see if you’d like to take part. If not, shake hands and refuse any job offer.

Toot Your Horn.

This is a little different than “tell the truth.” Especially if you have never had a salary, mention every volunteer position you’ve had, every class you did well in and enjoyed, your travel, your interests, and your enthusiasm for the job you’re applying for. Employers want you to fit in as much as you do. They want to know WHY you want this particular job, and they want to know you’ll be good at it. Give them a reason to want to hire you.

Look Your Best. Be Your Best. Show Your Best.

You might not like monkey suits or dresses, but this is not time to gripe or wimp out. Look people in the eye. Practice active listening (paraphrase what the interviewer says). Have a firm handshake. Answer questions thoroughly and smile a few times.  You can even tell a clean, witty joke (but be sure it’s clean and witty.) Be nice. Be kind. Be human. Show them your smarts. What are you best at? Let them know, and then let them know what you do best relates to the job description.

And finally, if you really want to avoid deadend jobs, make good on your promises. If you do, there will be no stopping you or your new organization.

Good luck! You’ll find some more good tips at this blog. Stay tuned for my future blogs on not getting stuck in a deadend job mid-career and how you can break the glass ceiling. If you’d like some assistance preparing for the job market, feel free to contact me for a brief meet-and-greet session. I especially love working with young adults with learning difference, and sensitive, creative people.