1. Understand your purpose

Ten years ago I was doing the marketing for Pimm’s a job I was really interested in, on a brand I was passionate about, with responsibilities that stretched and rewarded me in equal measure. I had both the freedom to try new things and the support to make sure I was always learning, not to mention surrounded by a fantastic group of colleagues, many of whom I now count among my closest friends.

And yet something wasn’t quite right. On paper it was the perfect job for me but when I was in it, I didn’t love it. I didn’t feel that I was put on this planet to sell booze (though I’m a big fan), so I took some time to reflect, and left the stability of my FTSE100 employer and went off to start my own business.

Nobody can find a job they love without first understanding what their definition of ‘success’ is. For me it meant making my mark in some way, and driving social change while having the freedom to do my own thing, in spite of the risks that came with it. I had always seen myself as a big business kind of girl, but actually I get more satisfaction from having social influence and control over my own time, rather than simply progressing up a predetermined hierarchy. I wanted my work to have meaning for me personally, to feel deeply connected to the cause. At my company, we believe that many people have transferable skills, and that having a heartfelt passion for something can often be more valuable than experience in that particular sector.

Everyone is different, every job is different, and understanding yourself and exactly what you are looking for is the first step towards happiness. Perhaps start by thinking about the things that fascinate you and that you love learning about in your spare time. Consider the jobs that exist in that sector - how can you take your experience and apply it there? It may allow you to find something that connects with your purpose, and makes you feel fundamentally fulfilled. Also think about the people you admire: what is it about what they do and the values they have that has earned your respect? Can you find a way to connect those values to the work you do?

As soon as you discover that personal connection then work stops being a job. It becomes a source of inspiration and you find you are able to inspire those around you. Ultimately, it’s about our time and how we choose to spend it. Thinking deeply about how we want to be spending that time is crucial to finding something we love.

You know you’ve found it when: people ask you ‘how’s your job going?’ in the pub on New Year’s Eve and you give them a longer answer than just ‘fine thanks’.

Three simple steps that tell the difference between a job you like and a job you love