If you want to walk the path of financial success (following our Wealth Wheel, of course), then you need to begin with income. You can’t get out of debt, budget or invest without money.

But money isn’t everything. You also want a job that you enjoy or at least don’t feels miserable going to every day.

What Kind of Job?

Before you start scouring the want ads (no one does that anymore),you should ask yourself a few questions to determine what kind of job you want.

Do You Hate Dealing With People?

Whether it’s because you are an introvert or you just have little patience for the stupidity of the average person, if you hate dealing with people, find a job that limits contact with them. Become an economist, a software developer, or an accountant and you will have a blissfully people-free career.

How Much Do You Want to Work?

Some careers provide more work-life balance than others. If you’re young and single or have a lot of debt to pay off, you might not mind working a lot of nights and weekends. But as you get older and have a family, it might not be ideal any longer.

If you don’t want to spend all your time working, consider a career in corporate recruiting, data analysis or insurance sales. Be sure to research the culture of the particular company you are applying for though. Some companies may “encourage” working long hours even in jobs that don’t traditionally require it.

How Much Schooling is Required?

You may have enough education to get hired at entry or mid level but if you want to move up, will you need more? If the answer is yes, you shouldn’t automatically be deterred. There are many options to go to school part time and continue to work and your employer may pay for all or part of your education.

How Much Do You Need to Live On?

Many of us harbor dreams of doing something creative or working at a non-profit for a cause important to us, but we also need to pay our bills. Know the minimum you can earn to pay your bills, pay any debt, and save for the future.

If you’re still determined to take a job for love over money, that’s okay. There are plenty of ways to be frugal and make money on the side.

Getting the Interview

Now that you have an idea of what you want to do, here are some ways to get an interview.

Have a Killer Resume

We did a whole episode on this. Unless you have an “in” at the company you are applying to, your resume is your only chance to get the attention of someone in a hiring position.

Clean Up Your Social Media

Anyone considering calling you in for an interview is going to Google your name first. What will they find? If you’re this piece of shit, you can expect never to get a job, ever. But you probably just have some embarrassing Facebook posts and Instagram pictures. Clean that stuff up and make every account you have private.

 Set Up a Killer LinkedIn Profile

Recruiters are using LinkedIn to find candidates and businesses are using Google to find new employees, so if you don’t have a profile set up yet...

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