Who do you want to be in your next chapter? In addition to the usual goals we set earlier this year like saving money, losing weight, eating healthier, etc. many people are considering changing careers throughout 2023.
The pandemic made each of us pause to reflect on what’s truly important. The pandemic also lead to the “the great resignation,” with millions of Americans, especially women, quitting their jobs to find careers that are more fulfilling and in sync with their core values. If you’re looking to transition, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. However, finding your perfect career path might be a little challenging.
In the best-selling book What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles, there’s a brilliant self-test called the “flower exercise,” which helps determine the types of jobs a person is best suited for. Each petal represents a different aspect of the job to consider, such as location, work environment, skills required, and desired salary. We’re adding our own little poker spin to that advice and showing you how to pinpoint the right career path. Learn how playing poker can help you land that dream job!
Here are six questions to ask yourself if you’re thinking of changing careers.
What career path makes you want to go all-in?
What is your mission in life, your calling, and the type of legacy you want to leave in the world? As we say in poker, where are you ready to go “all-in?”
What did you want to be when you were a child? If you didn’t follow that path and the desire is still there, now is the time to do something about it. Remember, it’s never too late to fulfill your childhood dreams, especially if you feel any type of guilt about not following them in the first place.
Think about what really lights you up and inspires you. If you won the lottery and never had to worry about money again for the rest of your life, what would you do with your time? Would you travel? Perhaps you look for a job in the travel and tourism industry. Would you help those in need? Maybe you could work for a philanthropic organization or as a first-responder or disaster relief worker. Do you love animals more than people? Become a veterinarian or get a job working with the ASPCA. The possibilities are endless, but it all starts with what’s in your heart.
What knowledge do you bring to the table?
What do you absolutely love to talk about, read about, learn about or participate in? What magazines, websites, and podcasts do you devour on a regular basis? When it comes to advice, what do others consider you an expert in?
You need to merge your inherent skills with a job that requires that particular knowledge and passion. If you know everything there is to know about fashion and Vogue.com is your internet browser homepage, then you should be working in fashion. If you’re a sports enthusiast and know every stat, on every player, in every game, you need to find a way to parlay that skill into a job. Perhaps you could become a sports writer or social media manager for a sports network. (Jobs for women in sports are on the rise!)
In most cases, the areas you enjoy and have experience in will tie into your overall mission and calling. The next step will be to see if you have the actual tools you need to perform that dream job.
What cards are you holding?
Now that you know the specific job knowledge you possess, it’s time to determine your every day skills. Interestingly enough, a lot of these skills are the same ones that are reinforced by learning to play poker.
For example, being highly-skilled at calculating risks is needed for banking and investment careers. Understanding body language and vocal intonations are important skills for anyone in sales. Having the ability to remain calm in high-stress situations is important if you’re a police officer or mental health worker.
Make a list of every type of transferable skill you currently possess and then cross-reference them to potential dream jobs. If you find you’re lacking in any area, start educating yourself on that particular skill now. Cultivate your best hand and you’ll have a better chance of cashing in on the perfect job.
Who do you want to play the game with?
What type of people do you want to work with? Are you an extrovert that loves being around creative, expressive people and bouncing ideas off of them? Do you prefer taking on solo projects with little input or feedback? That would be the difference between being an advertising executive or a computer programmer.
Think about the people you’ve enjoyed working with in the past. What personality traits do they share? Do an inventory of past jobs and rate the pros and cons of your previous coworkers. Then take the list of pros and find the industry and job that is most likely to put you in a room (or a Zoom!) with these types of people.
Considering the fact that you usually spend more time with your co-workers than your own family, figuring out who you want to work with is one of the most important aspects when it comes to determining your dream job.
Where do you want to play the game?
Where do you want to work and what does your perfect work environment look like? Vegas? Atlantic City? Monaco? They’re all great places to gamble, but they could also be great places to work, depending on what type of career you choose. Thanks to the new normal (remote and hybrid work), you can pretty much work from anywhere.
Maybe you want to stay exactly where you are and work remotely. Maybe you want to move to a big city or to a warmer climate. Think about your lifestyle and all the things you want to do when you’re not working. What city or town has the culture and environment to best support your interests and hobbies? What is your ultimate work-life balance and where in the world can you find it?
Once you find your perfect locale, you need to determine your perfect work environment within that locale. Do you want to work from home full-time or in an office? Or a hybrid arrangement of both? What does that office look like? Is it an open concept that encourages communication or walled-off offices conducive to deep work? Is it located in a city center with tons of restaurants and shops within walking distance? Or do you want to work outside in something like a landscaping or excavating business? What perks do you want to have? Free lunches? Craft beer on tap? Onsite daycare?
List out all the places you would love to live and then all the things you would want in a perfect work environment. You might not be able to get everything all at once, but you can certainly come pretty close.
What’s your minimum bet?
Now we’re talking salary. What’s the minimum salary you’re willing to accept? You’re going to need to run the numbers here, taking into account the cost of living in any of the locations you’ve selected and job-related expenses such as commuting if you choose to work in a physical office.
What are the non-negotiables when it comes to benefits? You may be willing to take less in base salary if free childcare is provided. Or perhaps one of the benefits is paid college tuition and that’s very important to you. Maybe you want to work for a startup that offers generous stock options.
When you take into consideration the possibility of actually landing your dream job with all the perks and benefits you desire, you soon realize that salary is not the be-all and end-all.
How learning to play poker can help you land your dream job
As we mentioned previously, many of the top skills needed in any type of job environment can be learned and honed at the poker table.
Critical business skills such as money management, risk management, non-verbal communication, and remaining calm under pressure are all exercised every time you play a game of poker. Having a high level of confidence, great networking skills, and solid negotiation tactics are also important traits to have when considering a career change.
Playing poker with Poker Power can enhance all of these skills, and, it’s so much fun! Why not get started today? Click here to sign up for our free online poker classes.
