Finding The Right Workplace Is Like Dating

You are looking for your first job once you have graduated. These days there seems to be many job options, and this is not just in physio. In healthcare alone, there are clinical and non-clinical roles that service the public which you can afford to apply for and with in because of your degree. It can be overwhelming to know where and how to start looking for the ‘right’ job for yourself.

I sometimes like to frame the search for a job in the context of establishing a healthy modern romantic relationship. Finding that job could be a bit like dating to find your partner in crime. There are plenty of fish in the sea but not all are the right fit. How do you catch the right fish or the right job for you? Let’s separate the job search into the following stages.

The Hunt

At this stage, you are actively looking for a job (or in the dating realm, ready to go on dates and being on an online dating app). You might be googling different hospitals, private practices or aged care physio jobs...doing your research...Facebook and Instagram snooping! When something catches your eye, you start asking friends or friends of friends, what they think about this workplace or whether they have heard anything good or bad about the workplace. You are thoroughly researching before you even make that first point of direct contact.

Observing From A Distant

You have established some direct contact with a workplace that is on the list titled, “Potential Workplaces”. It is now time to make some observations without being committed to the job just yet. This stage is similar to the initial phase of dating and in the search for a workplace can be in the form of work shadowing. During this stage, you might make observations on how other employees behave with one another, whether there are lunch breaks, how lunch breaks are taken, the types of clients/patients that are being seen and if employees are looking happy or burnt out. Ask yourself, what values does this workplace uphold with the actions you are observing and do these values fit in with the one’s important to you. It is important to know what you want and need before you start your observations from a distance.

Remember, this opportunity is not just for you to establish whether you want to commit to the workplace but is also an opportunity for the potential employer to determine if you are both the right fit for each other. Can you both work together in a healthy and respectful manner to develop a positive and fulfilling relationship?

Pass or Fail Examination

You have now decided you might want this job and now have some more crucial questions to ask which have not yet been addressed. These things might be more of the nitty gritty and things you want to be informed on before diving in and ‘dating’ on a more serious note. This could be the interview phase where you further investigate your list of essential and realistic criteria for a pass or fail. Some things that you may consider are, is this a salaried job or contractor job, how is professional development encouraged, is there access to mentorship, what are the hours of employment, is there weekend work and what is the workplace culture. If they have ticked off your most criteria, then you will be happy to consider the job (after reading the employment contract!).

Diving In

This is the exciting part! Both parties have decided to engage in a serious working relationship and so the new adventures start. You get to know each other, again, a bit more as you are now seeing the true working mechanics of each other. As is the natural progression of relationships, there is the ‘honeymoon’ phase where faults are not visible, everything is ‘perfect’. However, as a relationship develops, faults/challenges arise which may be difficult to accept. When issues start to rear their head, ask what can be done to resolve this challenge, is this a challenge you are not willing to compromise and how much does this bother you and your values? If these issues are relatively minor and the positives largely outweigh the negatives, then it may be worth staying on board.

Remember, if things don’t work out despite the research, observation, investigation of selection criteria and investment of your time, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Your experience is not wasted rather it provides you with insight and understanding of what want and need in your next working relationship. Remember, too, the first cut might be the deepest but lasting joy does exist in the right setting when the fit is right for both parties. Have patience, persist and know yourself so you can identify the potential right job next time. Finally, as with personal relationships, sometimes it takes a few before we find the one place that feels like home. Don't be disheartened, there is something out there in the big wide world

Thanks for reading!

If you want to get a better idea of what to look out for in employment contracts, check out this informative piece by Covalent Careers.

https://covalentcareers.com/resources/employment-contracts-physical-therapists/