We received some great comments from last week’s post about Finding Your Tribe which encouraged candidates to go beyond just applying for a job, but to also consider in which type of company and corporate culture they want to work.

It’s a critical aspect when starting your job search and most candidates overlook it. If you don’t understand what you want in your next job opportunity, how can you find the right position? Instead you will end up with the first decent job that comes along, but it probably won’t be a great career move.

So start your search off on the right foot. Think about what you want in your next move. Is it a mentor? To grow your skills to the next level? Remember that you’re in the job search to find a position that you can be passionate about and enjoy. Be prepared to discuss what your ideal job looks like. Go a step further and add it to your resume as an objective so that hiring managers understand what you want. Even better, tailor your resume to highlight what responsibilities you had in previous roles that relate to this new position. (Check out our previous post, Tailor your Resume for Best Results, for more info on this topic).

Don’t dread the job search or procrastinate rebuilding your resume to reflect recent accomplishments. Take this opportunity to polish your resume and think about how your next career move adds value to your profession and life. Ask the hiring manager or recruiter the tough questions that will help you determine if this is the right job for you. It’s ok to interview your future employer as much as they interview you. You’re looking for the job that you enjoy going to on Monday morning. Because if it’s only the about paycheck, then you chose the wrong job and you need to start looking for the next one now. Life is too short. Wouldn’t you agree?