If you’re about to enter the workforce, you probably have a few questions: What types of jobs are on the market? How can you secure one? Why should you work in the first place?
These are all valid questions that you might struggle to find answers to. So, we took it upon ourselves to write this comprehensive guide. We’ll answer all your questions and guide you through the job-hunting process.
But before we get technical, we want to explore a few broad terms to ensure you understand the premise of this post.
What Is Working?
In its simplest form, working is engaging in an endeavor or a task to satisfy customers’ needs. That work could be paid or unpaid. You can work daily or every other day, depending on the nature of your job.
Working Synonyms
- Busy: Putting all your attention and effort into a task that you don’t have much time to do anything else.
- Employed: Being given a job by a company or an individual doing specific tasks (usually for money).
- Running: The management of individuals, entities, or units.
- Laboring: Doing work that requires great physical effort.
Working is a two-syllable word that you can pronounce like this: wər-kiŋ. Think of its pronunciation as the combination of “war” and “king.”
What Is the Importance of Working?
Now that you understand the concept of working, we want to cover the impact it can have on you.
1. Pride
Working isn’t only about stress, deadlines, and anxiety. Successfully finishing several tasks on a daily basis gives a unique sense of achievement. That’s especially true if the job means a lot to you.
It increases your sense of value. You feel like an adult who’s capable of providing for themselves and taking responsibility. That can be a huge boost to your pride.
2. Satisfaction
Working towards a goal, climbing the professional ladder, and receiving words of affirmation from your managers give you a sense of purpose and satisfaction.
That’s the ultimate goal for most people, so it’s no wonder working offers a sense of satisfaction.
3. Income
We all have financial obligations, whether it’s bills, rent, or groceries. A stable income makes you feel safe, especially if you live in a country with an unstable economy.
Not only can you cover your living expenses, but you can also afford various luxuries. It also helps you if you have a family, as you can afford school and college fees.
4. Benefits
Companies offer different compensation packages besides the base salary to improve employee retention rates.
Some benefits are mandatory for them to offer. Others are optional. Different organizations don’t offer the same compensation packages. These benefits include:
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Annual leave
5. Something to Do
We all want to stay home, play video games, and watch YouTube videos. It’ll get boring at one point, though. Eventually, you’ll search for a different activity to distract yourself with.
That’s what a job is for. You’ll always be immersed in different tasks, so you don’t have to worry about boredom. That’s especially true if you love what you do.
6. Contribute to Society
Having a job doesn’t only offer personal benefits. In many forms of work, you contribute to the development of society in one way or another. Whether you’re delivering groceries, treating illnesses, or teaching others, you’re making other people’s lives better.
When people’s lives improve, society improves as well. Additionally, the taxes you pay as a worker contribute to public services and social programs.
What Are Types of Work?
There are different types of jobs on the market. The nature of your employment usually depends on the company’s needs and the market’s state. So, let’s see what kind of work you can find on the market today.
1. Full-Time Work
Full-time work is what most people imagine when they think of a job. You work 30-40 hours (sometimes more) five days a week. That’s the classic definition of an employee.
Despite the long hours, full-time employees receive various benefits. Besides the ones we already covered, they also get:
- Sick leaves
- Paternity and maternity leaves
- Childcare
2. Part-Time Work
As the name suggests, part-time work is the light version of a full-time job. On average, a part-time employee works less than 30-35 hours a week. A few jobs can require as few as 10 hours.
These working hours come with a price, though, as part-timers don’t enjoy the benefits of a full-time contract.
3. Freelance Work
Today, more people are drawn to the idea of remote work and being self-employed. That’s why freelance work has become popular these past few years. Contrary to full-time workers, freelancers enjoy a flexible working schedule.
They usually work by securing as many gigs as possible. Gigs are defined as individual jobs that a freelancer can do for a specific time. These include writing, video editing, illustrating, and more.
4. Contract Work
The premise of contract work is similar to that of freelancing. A company hires an employee to work on a project for a specific time. Unlike freelancing, though, these employees have a contract.
That contract might require them to work on-site or dictate a specific number of working hours.
5. Apprentice or Internship Work
An apprenticeship or internship is where companies offer short-term employment to people with little experience in a specific field. Interns usually work on real projects related to that industry.
So, it’s an excellent experience to understand what it means to be a part of a professional work environment.
6. Temporary work
Temporary work is where a company hires you for a specific time with a task-based contract. That contract is more flexible than a full-time one. It allows companies to adapt to sudden changes, like an employee being temporarily absent.
It also allows organizations to form a full evaluation of employees before offering them open-ended contracts.
Examples of Work
Understanding the premise of different types of work isn’t enough. I think giving you a few examples can help you form a clear idea:
- Full-time work: Examples of full-time work include banking, management, or teaching.
- Part-time workers: cooking, waitressing, and grocery delivery are prominent examples of part-time work.
- Freelance workers: Freelance work includes content writing, video editing, and translating.
- Contract work: Many jobs can fall under that category, like marketing, graphic design, or public relations.
- Apprenticeship or Internship: Companies offer various Internships in fields like business analysis, engineering, or accounting.
- Temporary work: You can find temporary work in sales, business, or HR.
How to Start Working [Step-By-Step]
Now that you understand the different types of employment on the market, let’s see how you can actually secure a job.
Try Career Counseling
Career counseling is a service where you have a one-on-one conversation with a career counselor.
That counselor considers your strengths, weaknesses, hobbies, and goals to suggest a few career options.
They also help you prepare for interviews, write resumes, draft cover letters, and more.
Join a Temp Agency
A temp agency is an entity that helps companies find employees in specific fields. It does all the paperwork for the companies it collaborates with and helps workers find short-term employment.
It also conducts staff interviews, runs background checks, and analyzes employees’ performance.
Put Together a Resume
Writing a professional resume can help you secure a good job. It allows companies to understand your background, skills, and work experience. Ultimately, it reflects your work ethic and expresses who you are as an employee.
Apply for Jobs That Suit You
Applying for a job that suits your skills is the fastest way to find work. You won’t have to search for long since you have the necessary qualifications.
However, you want to identify your core skills first so you can determine what jobs suit you.
Start With an Internship
Internships offer you the chance to build connections, develop your skills, and understand the nuances of your field. While it won’t bring you much money, it’s the most effective way to get hands-on experience (besides actual work).
Reach Out to Your Network
Searching in dashboards and reaching out to companies isn’t the only way to find work. You can learn about an opening from a friend or a relative. They can even recommend you for the position.
Wrapping Up
Now, you understand what is working. It’s a complicated term with several variables factoring into how you do it. Whether you choose to work full-time, part-time, or as a freelancer, there isn’t one way to find a suitable job.
You can build a high-quality resume, but you can also network or secure an internship. Ultimately, choose the road that suits your skills and meets your needs.
Has this post benefited you in any way? Which type of employment piqued your interest the most? If you have any questions, let me know in the comments.
