To kick start our February social media campaign #loveyourjob, we are going to retell the fascinating story of the origins of St.Valentine’s Day. Then we give you 3 ways to find a job you love.
The Origins Of Valentine’s Day
No one can be sure about the origins of Valentine’s Day but its roots may lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration held annually on 15th February.
The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name. On 14th February in different years in the 3rd century A.D, Emperor Claudius II executed two or three men called Valentine. The Catholic Church wanted to stamp out the pagan festival so they honoured these men by naming the celebration St. Valentine’s Day.
Which St. Valentine Pope Gelasius I intended to honour is unsure. According to the Catholic Encyclopaedia, there were at least three early Christian saints by that name. Most scholars believe it was a priest who became unpopular with Claudius II. According to a legend, the Roman emperor had disallowed young men to marry, believing that bachelors made better soldiers.
The priest Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies secretly but was eventually caught and executed. Another legend tells that Valentine, imprisoned by Claudius II fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and before his execution, he sent her a letter signed “from your Valentine.”
Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticised the day in their literary work and it gained popularity throughout Britain and Europe. In the middle ages handmade cards made of paper, lace and ribbon were given to loved ones. The industrial revolution made mass-produced cards possible and in 1913 Hallmark began production of Valentine’s cards.
Today the special day has become as popular as ever with 25% of all cards sent each year being Valentine’s cards.
3 Ways To Find A Job You Love
1. Identify What Makes You Happy
Identify what makes you happy and what you are good at. This can be the hardest part of finding a job you love as not everyone knows what they are looking for, Psychologies Magazine describes how to do this:
“First, consider what skills you exercise at least occasionally where you do things well, and when you enjoy what you’re doing. These are your motivated skills, and if you can use 70 per cent of these skills 70 per cent of the time you’re on track for work satisfaction.
The second important area is knowledge – not the stuff you learnt at school or college, but whatever you have chosen to learn about in your spare time – what do you enjoy reading, talking, enquiring about? When coaches talk mysteriously about ‘finding your passion’ they really mean a topic that you are happy to live and breathe seven days a week. If it’s a hobby or interest that appears to have nothing to do with the world of work, look at it tangentially.”
2. The Right Work Environment
Think about the kind of work environment you want to work in. Do you want to work in a collaborative environment where you will be working with various different colleagues towards a shared goal? Or do you want to work in a competitive environment where you will be pushed to meet targets?
3. Get Relevant Work Experience
If you are lacking in the relevant experience to bag your ideal job then look for an opportunity to undertake work experience to fill in the experience gap. Even if you carry out this work experience for 3 months, it shows any potential employers that you are serious about working in that role.
If you need help in finding the job you love then get in touch with 2i Recruit now and one of our recruitment consultants will be able to assist you.
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