Steps to Successful

Employment Planning

Finding a job can seem tough. You wonder what you can do, where you’ll look, who will hire you and how to find a job you’ll like. Your preparation for work may include college or special course training, an LDS mission, work experience or may center in your home. You may be looking for a temporary job or a lifetime career; your first job or another in a series. You may be a homemaker forced into the marketplace, or find yourself looking for work because of a layoff or other unexpected change. Whatever your goals, background, or motivation, you can build a successful life-long employment plan if you focus on three principles:

Principle #1: Establish lasting priorities.
You work in order to accomplish goals. You will have lasting happiness when your goals are based on family relationships and service to God, friends and community. The pursuit of wealth and the things it buys produces only short-term pleasure. The same is true for fame and praise. Your employment will be more rewarding as you establish lasting priorities that emphasize meaningful relationships and service.

Principle #2: Trust heaven’s help.
Men have the responsibility, the obligation and the right to provide for their families. Because it is a commandment, the Lord will guide you to proper employment. For women, wisdom dictates that you should have employment preparation that would provide you with options. While you must do your part, you can have confidence that heaven will help. You have undiscovered talents and abilities and can do more than you know. Heaven knows each person’s future and can guide your choice and timing of employment preparation. Trust heaven to help.

Principle #3: Expand personal stewardships.
You should constantly learn – new skills, new abilities, new subjects – and you should use your knowledge to increase your capacity to work and serve. You should be able to do more tomorrow than you can today. By expanding your personal capacity – through education, accepting additional responsibilities, and continued learning – you make yourself more employable and enrich your life.