Till Death (or Retirement) Do Us Part: Selecting a ‘Marriageable’ Career

Seeking a mate until the end of time: looking for an honest, reliable, intelligent companion. Would prefer a life partner to a quick fling. Must be flexible, attentive, and willing to help make ends meet. Life can be daunting, let’s weather it together.

Finding the perfect job can be a lot like finding the right spouse.  Sure, it’s awesome to have that intense, cinematic (brief) love affair, but is that the person you want to settle down with?

In love, as in work, you’re probably looking for something more even-keeled and adaptable when times get tough.  You need someone and something resilient.  Ultimately, the criteria for both pursuits can be filtered down to one word: longevity.  Start your career search off on the right foot by looking at it as you would finding a husband or wife.  Bust out that pro’s and con’s list if that is what it takes.  Careful consideration can lead you to the perfect match, as it is in love so shall it be in work.

Career Hunting & Love Searching is One in the Same

It’s important to search for the right long-term job in the same way you would search for a husband or a wife—sensibly.  You’ll probably have to go through a few that aren’t right; kiss a few proverbial frogs.  But that’s all part of the learning experience.

Landing an entry-level job after college might not be ideal, but all those perks that college promised (the paid holidays, health care, and sick leave) are imminent.  In the meantime, a high turnover rate can hurt your career path.  Employers like to see that you have some staying power.  Patience is key.  In careers, as in marriage, part of finding the right one is waiting.

That being said, complacency can keep qualified, talented people from ever achieving their career aspirations.  The reality is this: it’s a tough economy out there, you might need to serve a few lattes for a while to make ends meet.  But don’t get stuck making ends meet.  You may wake up a decade older with no job experience in the right field.

If you’ve ever been with someone that’s just so nice (or smart, or caring) that it’s difficult to end a relationship you know isn’t right, then you already know how this feels.  You have to keep putting yourself out there—even though it isn’t always easy or fun—because eventually the right one is going to come along.

The Peanut Gallery

You wouldn’t marry someone without introducing them to your parents, right?  When you do get married, you’ll need a whole community of people to act as bridesmaids, groomsmen, and guests.  The love and support of your social network will be integral to your success as a couple.  These are the people you will turn to at various stages of life, both happy and sad, to find comfort and joy.

Why not turn to them for advice on your job search too?  Don’t be afraid to reach out and get opinions from people you love, they wouldn’t lead you astray.  Sometimes it’s helpful even just to talk through it with someone who understands you.

Millennials are changing the world.  We are waiting longer to get married than previous generations.  We are holding out for jobs that speak to our passions rather than our paychecks.  We are living in a way that feels authentic to us—both in love and in work.  When it comes time to settle down, rest assured we’ll have found the right fit: the right person, the right career, and a lifetime of happiness to look forward to.

This guest post was provided by Aditya Singhal.  

Author Bio: “Aditya Singhal is the writer at StudyClerk and the co-founder of Transtutors, a leading international online education portal. Imparting education, apart from being a business, is also a passion for Aditya. He is avidly indulged in helping students develop their skills and counsels them for their career aspirations. He is devoted to the social cause of making education available to the underprivileged by contributing a part of his revenue from Transtutors towards their education.“

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Photo Credit: Mark K.