The First Step to Finding a Job That Makes You Happy, with Aoife O’Brien

A successful job search starts with self-knowledge, not sending out applications. According to Find Your Dream Job guest Aoife O’Brien, many job seekers make the mistake of jumping into similar roles after feeling unhappy at work, only to land in the same situation again. Aoife’s “Know, Show, Grow” framework encourages starting with three core pillars: values – what truly matters to you beyond a paycheck; needs – what keeps you motivated day to day; strengths – what energizes you and comes naturally. Without this foundation, you risk repeating the cycle of unfulfilling jobs. Aoife also recommends showing your value by tying your strengths to real business outcomes from past roles. Instead of applying everywhere, focus on opportunities that align with your authentic self, and submit fewer, better applications.

About Our Guest:

Aoife O’Brien is the founder of Happier at Work. 

Resources in This Episode:

• Visit her website at happieratwork.ie 
• Connect with Aoife on LinkedIn. 

Transcript

Find Your Dream Job, Episode 513:

The First Step to Finding a Job That Makes You Happy, with Aoife O’Brien

Airdate: August 6, 2025

Mac Prichard:

This is Find Your Dream Job, the podcast that helps you get hired, have the career you want, and make a difference in life.

I’m your host, Mac Prichard. I’m also the founder of Mac’s List. It’s a job board in the Pacific Northwest that helps you find a fulfilling career.

Every Wednesday, I talk to a different expert about the tools you need to get the work you want.

Many people begin a job search by sitting down at a computer, finding open positions, and sending out applications.

Our guest today says the most successful candidates do something different when they start to look for work.

Aoife O’Brien is here to talk about the first step to finding a job that makes you happy.

She’s the founder of Happier at Work.

Aoife’s company cultivates human-centered workplace cultures that promote well-being and impact and support employee growth and retention.

She joins us from Tenerife, Spain.

Today, Aoife, we’re talking about the first step you should take when starting a job search.

Before we turn to your recommendations, what, in your experience, is the first step that most job seekers take?

Aoife O’Brien:

I think, like you said, maybe you’re not feeling too happy at work where you are right now, and you go on LinkedIn or you go on a job board like yours and you look for what’s out there currently, what’s similar to what it is that I’m doing now.

I think oftentimes we limit ourselves by thinking that we have to do something similar to what we’re doing at the moment.

Mac Prichard:

And why is that not a good approach, starting with what you’re doing now and then going online to look at job boards?

Aoife O’Brien:

It really depends on how much you know yourself. I have this framework that I use when it comes to managing your career. It’s called the “Know, Show, Grow” framework. And the first step in that is no. And it’s really about knowing yourself, really understanding what drives you.

So, for example, if you’re in a job right now and you’re not really that happy, but you don’t know why you’re not happy, then how do you know that the next step that you take is going to be the one that actually makes you happy?

If you don’t know what the source of your own happiness is or what’s driving your current unhappiness, then you could be stepping into a new role that is exactly the same and has all the same issues that you’re currently experiencing.

Mac Prichard:

And what do you say to people who think, “That sounds great, Aoife, but I need a job now, and I just need to get out of here?”

Aoife O’Brien:

That’s a really great question. And that was me. And if I’m perfectly honest, I left those situations immediately because I valued my health much more than I valued a paycheck.

I had enough saved that I was able to take a step away and earn and spend the savings that I had saved while I spent time traveling, and while I spent time considering what my next move would be.

On the other side, I get that there are a lot of people who are not in that privileged position to be able to take time off.

And in that case, maybe for your own mental health, it is a case of just finding what’s next, finding, you know, we could even be taking a step down, but find something where you have that mental space to be able to then reflect on what is that next best move for me after I get out of this current situation.

Mac Prichard:

And I want to talk about that work that you recommend people do.

Before we get there, what in your experience happens to people who don’t do this work, who just keep applying for jobs that they’re already doing or look for exits because they’re unhappy?

Whatever situation they might be in, they don’t do the work and just keep applying for the next gig.

Aoife O’Brien:

There are a few ways to look at it. And it’s not to say that if you keep applying for the same thing, that that’s a bad thing.

Once you understand yourself, what are your drivers? What are your values? What are you really good at? But at the same time, if you keep repeating that same kind of process, you may end up never reaching that full potential, never feeling truly fulfilled at work.

And I’m a firm believer that we can all feel fulfilled. We can all feel happy in the work that we do. I think there’s, there’s this kind of, I was going to say myth, maybe it’s not a myth, but there’s this general perception that work is work and it’s supposed to suck and it’s supposed to be hard.

I’m of the total opposite perception of that. For me, work can be something that is really fulfilling when you know what it is that really lights you up and you’re able to take that next step.

And maybe the next step is not applying for a new job. Maybe it’s an additional qualification that you need to do. Maybe it’s a sideways step rather than a promotion. You know, just opening our minds a little bit more as to what that could be, I think, is important.

It’s about fulfilling your potential and feeling really fulfilled through the work that you do.

Mac Prichard:

So let’s talk about how to figure out what lights you up. What’s the first step that you recommend listeners take to finding a job that makes you happy?

Aoife O’Brien:

The first step is about knowing yourself, and really knowing yourself is understanding the three pillars of the Happier at Work framework.

And when I talk about the Happier at Work framework, we have three pillars: number one, values, and understanding what I really value in my life. What’s really, really important to me? What’s more important to me than money?

And I’ll come back and explain these in a little bit more detail in a second.

Number two, then, is your needs or your drivers. They’re the things that really get you up in the morning. They’re the things that motivate you to do your best work.

And then the third aspect of my Happier at Work framework, in terms of the pillars to understanding yourself, are the strengths.

So if we think about values, and a lot of people, myself included, when I worked in corporate, I had no idea what my values were.

I knew that as an organization, we had corporate values. I knew because they were in the email signatures, they were pasted on the walls. We saw them in meeting rooms. We talked about them as well. We have values recognition.

But as an individual, I didn’t know that I also have values that I bring to the table. And the importance of understanding what those values are and aligning our values with the values of the organization cannot be understated. We really need to have an understanding of what our core values are.

Mac Prichard:

And if a why is that important, why does that make a difference not only for your next job but throughout your career?

Aoife O’Brien:

When we understand our values and feel a sense of alignment with the values of the organization, it gives us this sense of belonging at work. So, it increases our sense of belonging, making us feel like this is who I am, this is where I’m supposed to be, and here I can do my best work.

So it’s so important to understand that, and as well for leaders to make that connection for people.

And to bring people into an organization where their values are aligned and reiterate how their values align.

Mac Prichard:

What happens if you don’t understand your values and make that connection when you’re applying for your next position or as you go through your career?

Aoife O’Brien:

To share a personal example: So as I mentioned, I didn’t know that I had values. I didn’t know that I had my own personal values.

It wasn’t until I left my corporate life that I went on and I did a coaching qualification and a masters and this concept of values kept coming up again and again.

If you find yourself applying for roles and you’re not really clear on what it is that you stand for or what your values are. You may enter into the same type of situations that you find yourself in currently, which is driving you to want to leave. So you may get into this cycle of, I’m here, I don’t really feel fulfilled.

And I think it’s time to look for a new job again, but maybe you don’t have the words to explain or understand what’s really happening at its core. And it could be a misalignment with the values of the organization, or you’re not clear on. What you stand for or how you fit into the structure of the organization.

Mac Prichard:

And the three pillars you mentioned a moment ago are values, needs, and strengths.

Now we’ve talked about values, say more about needs.

Why are they important and how do they help you find a job that’s gonna make you happier at work?

Aoife O’Brien:

So again, needs are probably not something that we talk about at work very much at all, if at all. And it’s something to really understand what your unmet needs are. So the more I research this, the more it’s about understanding where my needs are not currently being met.

And so part of the research that I did for my dissertation included this idea of needing satisfaction at work in the form of a very fancy theory called self-determination theory.

And I looked at these three universal needs that we all have: the need for autonomy, the need for relatedness, and the need for competence. So we’ll take autonomy as an example of a need that we all have that needs to be satisfied at work.

And it’s not just about satisfying that need, it’s about finding a balance. So, for example, I’m sure there are a lot of listeners here who’ve been micromanaged in their careers, in their roles previously. And I know I certainly have.

So when you are micromanaged, you lose a sense of choice and control over what you do and how you do it. And you feel like you can’t really do anything because you’re constantly being watched.

So you have too little autonomy. At the other end, we have too much autonomy. And that means we’re being left to our own devices. We’re not being given expectations or clear guidance.

And we’re left floundering and using a lot of energy trying to figure out what the priorities are in this role. And so being able to understand and articulate what our needs are and where our needs are not currently being met helps us to be happier in the role that we’re currently doing, but also helps us with the language to understand if I’m taking on this new role, where are my, you know, where do I need to make sure that my needs are being met in this next role?

And again, similar to values, we don’t necessarily have the language to explain exactly what’s going on for us because we’ve never been told about these things called needs that we have, that we all have.

And so it helps us with that language and having a better understanding of ourselves and what it is that we’re really seeking out from the role that we’re looking for.

Mac Prichard:

Okay, let’s pause there. We’re going to take a break. Stay with us when we return. We’ll continue our conversation with Aoife O’Brien about the first step you need to take to find a job that’s going to make you happier at work.

Back in the Mac’s List Studio, I’m talking with Aoife O’Brien. She’s the founder of Happier at Work. Aoife’s company cultivates human-centered workplace cultures that promote well-being and impact and support employee growth and retention.

And she joins us from Tenerife in Spain.

Now, Aoife, before the break, we were talking about the first step to finding a job that makes you happy.

And we talked about what many applicants do: sit down and send out applications and you were stressing the importance of knowing yourself and particularly focused on three areas: values, needs, and strengths.

We talked about the difference knowing your values and your needs can make not only when you apply for your next job but throughout your career.

Let’s talk about strengths and then I know there are two other points that you want to make that you recommend people consider.

Why does understanding your strengths help you find a job that’s going to make you happy?

Aoife O’Brien:

Yeah, absolutely. Thanks, Mac. And can I reiterate that strengths are something that make you feel strong??

So if you think about what your strengths are, it’s usually something that comes quite easily and naturally to you. And because it comes easily and naturally, we don’t necessarily know what our strengths are.

So knowing what our strengths are enables us to take on roles that really maximize the strengths means that work feels easier, it feels less stressful, and we feel a greater sense of fulfilment when we can do things that we’re really good at.

And how to know your strengths, there are lots of online tools that you can take, some are free, some are paid, but you can also think about, well, when I was at school, what was I really good at? What did I enjoy?

And what do other people ask me about? What do they come to me specifically to ask me for help for?

Mac Prichard:

So the first set of principles is to know yourself.

And now there’s a second set that you recommend people follow in order to find a job that’s going to make you happy at work. And that is to demonstrate who you are.

What do you have in mind here, Aoife, when you talk about demonstrating who you are?

Aoife O’Brien:

Yeah, it’s really so I call it my “Know, Show, Grow” framework. The show part is really about showing people what you can do. So it’s not just one thing to know what it is that you’re capable of, but it’s another thing completely to be able to demonstrate or to show other people what you are actually capable of.

So this is important in a job-seeking area because you need to get these things across. You need to be able to talk confidently about your strengths, about how your strengths have helped you in your career to date, how you’ve been able to use them to achieve specific goals in previous roles that you’ve worked in. It’s really important.

And again, you know, to reiterate the fact that it’s not bragging, it’s not boasting, it’s making connections between what you’re really good at, what you’ve brought to previous roles.

And with the idea that this is what I can bring to this role that I’m looking for right now.

Mac Prichard:

How do you do that, Aoife, and how is that going to help you find a job that makes you happier?

Aoife O’Brien:

It’s really about finding that connection between how you’ve utilized your strengths in the roles that you’ve had up to now. So, for example, I’m a big spreadsheet person. I love using spreadsheets. I love doing analytics and calculations.

So I can take an example of a previous role that I worked in and say, well, I used my analytics skills to be able to quantify some specific outcomes for a client that they weren’t aware of previously.

So this is taken from my previous market research expertise. And so if I’m looking for a role, I can say, well, I was able to use my analytical skills to save the client X amount of money. So that’s not me boasting and making that link very specifically for the person in front of you, of how the skills and the strengths that I have translated into real business results.

And how that makes you happier is by being able to use your strengths at work, we feel a greater sense of fulfillment. We feel strong. Like I said, when you get to use your strengths at work, it makes you feel powerful.

It reduces the amount of stress that you have. It makes you feel more fulfilled with the work that you’re doing because you get to do things that come easily and naturally to you and that you really enjoy doing.

Mac Prichard:

So the first part of the framework is to know who you are, rather, and the second is to show who you are. The third part I want to draw you out on that you talk about is setting goals that help you grow. Say more about this.

Aoife O’Brien:

The grow part of the framework has a few different elements to it. So part of that is growing your network. So, making sure that you’re connecting with people, that you’re reaching out and building the network that you already have, so that you can utilize and leverage that network to grow your career. But it’s also about setting those stretch goals.

Where do you see yourself, and what steps do you need to take to be able to realise those goals that you have? And for a long time, for me personally, what I very much focused on was what’s the next level in this current organization?

Or if I were to move roles, what does the next level look like for me? And I very much limited myself because I was focused on this ladder and climbing up the ladder without the consideration that, actually, if I took an adjacent role, if I made a lateral move, this might be another way to explore a different type of career to gain more experience, which will be really beneficial for me as I progress through my career.

Having had experience, for example, in client service roles, as well as in operations roles, rather than limiting myself by saying, I’m only going to stay within this type of role.

Mac Prichard:

Many listeners might struggle with setting goals, especially in a job search and in a career.

What’s your best advice, for people who are having trouble setting job search goals? What have you seen work in your coaching practice?

Aoife O’Brien:

Yeah, I mean, there are a couple of different things. There are different tools that you can use for goal setting. I’ve become a big fan of ChatGPT for bouncing ideas around. You can look at what kind of goals other people have.

So is it about the quality versus the quantity, for example, of resumes or the number of roles that you’re submitting a resume for that you’re applying for? So, really getting a handle on that. And for me, it really is about the quality.

You know, if I think back to my early career, it was about the quantity and, you know, someone commented that I’m submitting so many resumes to so many different places.

But actually, if I had thought to focus on the quality of knowing what it is that I really want, it would have saved me a lot of time. It would have saved me a lot of heartache and rejection as well. Setting goals around quality is really important.

Mac Prichard:

Terrific. Well, I’ve enjoyed our conversation, Aoife. Now tell us what’s next for you?

Aoife O’Brien:

So Mac, I’m currently writing a book, it’s all focused on leaders. The working title is Thriving Talent. And it’s focusing on using my Happier at Work framework.

So I talked about the three pillars, but we also have an underpinning of psychological safety and a capstone of leadership. So how can leaders really use this framework to drive a positive working environment?

Mac Prichard:

Terrific. I know that listeners can learn more about you and your work by visiting your website. That’s happieratwork.ie.

And you also invite our audience to connect with you on LinkedIn.

When you do reach out to Aoife on LinkedIn, please mention you heard her on Find Your Dream Job.

Now, Aoife, given all the great advice you’ve shared today, what’s the one thing you want a listener to remember about that first step to finding a job that makes you happy?

Aoife O’Brien:

I think before you think about submitting your resume for a role or thinking about applying for a specific role, really take time to know yourself.

Mac Prichard:

Next week, our guest will be Mher Mardoyan. He’s a career coach who helps early to mid-level professionals find jobs faster.

Mher also hosts the career advice podcast, Crack the Hiring Code, Get Hired.

A job search can feel overwhelming, especially in the beginning. You know you want to use your time well, but you’re unsure about what works well and what doesn’t.

Until next time, thanks for letting us help you find your dream job.

This show is produced by Mac’s List.

Susan Thornton-Hough schedules our guests and writes our newsletter. Lisa Kislingbury Anderson manages our social media.

Our sound engineer and editor is Matt Fiorillo. Dawn Mole creates our transcripts. And our music is by Freddy Trujillo.

This is Mac Prichard. See you next week.

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