Blog Post: Where You Work Is As Important As What You Do

As people consider their next green career, they usually focus on what they are going to do in their next job. Although doing what you love and what engages you are important to your sense of fulfillment in the job, they aren't the only factor to consider.

Where you spend your day and with whom you spend your time is just as important. If you've ever worked in a bad work environment you know how much it can impact your work satisfaction.

As you consider your options for your next green career, think about the work environment that is going to allow you to be fulfilled, satisfied, and productive. Be ideal in your exploration of the right work environment. Don't limit yourself to what you've experienced in the past. Think outside the box to create a picture of the work environment that's best for you.

Use the following list of work environment characteristics to create a description of the kind of work environment you want in your next job.

Location
Where do you want to go to work? What's the best way to describe the location? Think about the building (or lack thereof) as well as where the building is located. You might also want to consider how green the company building is.

Workspace
Where do you do your work? How would you describe your ideal work space? Is it in one place? In multiple places? How is it furnished? Be as specific as possible in your description of your design.

People
Who do you work with? If you could wave a magic wand, what kind of co-workers, employees, managers, and vendors would you work with? Although some people think it's not possible to "design" your work community, being clear about the kind of people you enjoy working with can give you clues about the field you want to be in and can be a red flag warning if a position is not a good fit for you.

Schedule
What does your workday look like? Your schedule has a lot to do with your satisfaction at work. How would you design your ideal workday?

Benefits
What benefits are critical for you to have? Companies at different stages of development will have different benefits packages. If you know what you need up front, you'll have a better chance of making the right decision about whether a job offer is a good fit for you.

Employee or Contractor
What is your ideal work arrangement? Do you want to work full-time? Do you want to work part-time? Do you desire to be an employee or a contractor? If you are a contractor, do you want to work freelance or through an agency? Or do you want to be an entrepreneur? Although we grew up thinking we'd have a full time salaried position, there are a lot of other options in the current economy. Think about your lifestyle, personal responsibilities, and work style to determine the work contract that's going to be the best match for your life.

One Final Tip
When doing an exercise like this, it's easy to hyper focus on what hasn't worked in past work environments. Although those elements of your work environment are important, they aren't the only ones to consider. As you build your picture of your ideal work environment, be sure to claim the elements of your work environment that have worked for you in the past. For instance, just because you have a wonderful work schedule in your current job doesn't mean that work schedule is going to exist in every job you consider. Articulate what it is that you like about your work schedule so that you can look for that in another position in the future.

Carol McClelland PhD
Green Career Expert
http://www.greencareercentral.com