Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

By Khalilah Starks

Whether you’re a 9 to 5-er or an entrepreneur, there’s nothing more fulfilling than doing work every day that perfectly aligns with your natural talents and interests. However, there’s nothing more frustrating than going to a job every day that you hate. So, how do you know if you’ve found the right fit? Here are 10 signs to let you if you’re on the right path:

1.   A little effort goes a long way. You find that you don’t have to try so hard to master a skill or complete a project. You excel effortlessly. Practice certainly makes perfect. But, you find yourself arriving at that state of perfection (or pretty darn close) with less practice than most. You may not have even had tons of formal training. Yet, you perform like a pro. Formal training only makes you unstoppable.

2.   You sometimes have to pinch yourself because you can’t believe that you get paid for the work that you do. Sometimes, you almost feel guilty about it because you’d totally do it for free. But, your wise enough to know that your skills are highly valuable.

3.   You don’t see the obstacles that you encounter as struggle or defeat. Instead, you see those obstacles as temporary challenges that you’re willing to sink your teeth into in order to find the right solution.

4.   You have to stop yourself from working so much because it’s so enjoyable. You really could go on and on. You’re willing to work your butt off to reach a new level of achievement. But, the hard work feels so good!

5.   You consistently receive feedback for a job well done. After all, you’re great at what you do, you love it, and it shows!

6.   Every time you look up, you’re receiving a promotion. Your performance is exceptional, so you can’t help but move forward on your career path at the speed of lightening.

7.  You find yourself talking about the work that you do in social situations. You can’t help yourself. Your passion simply doesn’t turn off because you’ve walked out of your office. And, you’re proud of what you do!

8.   New and exciting opportunities seem to find you. When you perform well and love what you do, people will notice. They’ll either keep you in mind for future opportunities or share their thoughts on your exceptional performance with others. Either way, you become a magnet for new and exciting opportunities.

9.   You can be yourself. There’s no need to pretend to be someone else. You’ve found a place where your authentic self is valued.

10.  You wake up every morning excited and looking forward to what you’ll accomplish that day. And, it feels so good!

Statistics show that a whopping 70% of people in the United States hate their jobs. Yikes! If you haven’t found the perfect fit, there are things that you can do right now to move you closer to having the blissful experience of loving what you do.

Take some time to create a list of your natural strengths. Are you a good communicator? Are you a math whiz? Are you highly analytical? Have you consistently received great feedback on specific skills? Start identifying what you’re good at so that you can focus on identifying opportunities that will allow you to use those strengths.

Take a stroll down memory lane. Think back to the experiences in your professional career when you were the happiest. Were there certain aspects of a job that you really enjoyed? Was there a project that you performed very well on, that felt effortless? Are there any achievements that make you feel really proud? Making a list of your happiest and most fulfilling moments throughout your career will help you identify the type of work that you’ll want to focus on finding in your next opportunity.

Make a list of the things that you hate about your current job (and previous jobs). These are the things that you absolutely want to avoid at your next job. Also, knowing what you don’t want can help you identify what you do want. For example, if you hate the monotony of your job, this will help you clarify your need for a job that offers more variety and change.

Be patient. Even if you’re really frustrated in your current role, resist the urge to simply jump to the next job or career opportunity without taking time to make sure that it aligns with your natural strengths and interests. If you don’t, you’ll more than likely find yourself miserable and looking yet again for another career opportunity.