There are obvious things we all want in a new job or career. We all want things like more money, better benefits, more security, more opportunity to advance. But what about the less obvious factors that make a job less work and more satisfying?
After we feed our external “Maslow” requirements for work – money, benefits, and security the next step is our intrinsic needs. Most of us seek approval of our efforts. We want a pleasant work environment and interesting work. We also crave opportunity to stretch and grow so that we can progress in our career goals. We want to be “self-actualized” and reach our potential. We want to make a difference in the world.
After a while the money and benfits cease to motivate us to our highest level of contribution. So when we are in a job search it is important to pay special attention to those elements that meet our higher needs. That is what will sustain us during periods of dissatisfaction with our work tasks or conditions.