How to Determine if a Job is the Right Fit for You
For many job seekers, finding the right job often takes a back seat to landing immediate employment. Unfortunately, that approach can lead to frustration, unhappiness, and either a quick return to the unemployment line or years of misery. The best way to avoid that outcome is to do your due diligence and make sure that the job you accept is one that matches your personal and professional goals.
In this post, we will examine the factors that you should consider when you are trying to determine if a job is the right fit for you. We will also explain why you should review these factors at three critical points during the job search process.
Factors you should consider and why they matter
There are many different factors that you can and should consider when evaluating any potential job to decide if it’s a good fit. The following questions can help you with that evaluation process.
1. Does the job match my skill level?
No job is going to be right for you if the role does not align with your skill set. In fact, if you are looking at a job that does not allow you to properly utilize your skills, there is almost no chance that it will provide any type of job satisfaction. To avoid that possibility, it is important to create a list of all your most relevant skills, taking note of all the skills that bring you the most joy. If a potential job does not require any of those skills, you should probably continue your job search.
2. Will the job align with my lifestyle?
Work-life balance is becoming an increasingly important priority for many millions of workers. As a result, these workers are focused on finding jobs that align with their chosen lifestyles. In most instances, that alignment will depend upon a given company’s culture and overall values.
For example, how many hours does the employer expect you to work? Will you have the flexibility in scheduling that you may need for childcare and other concerns? You should list all your lifestyle priorities so that you have a good understanding of what you truly need to ensure that a given job fits your lifestyle.
3. Can the job help me achieve your career goals?
You should evaluate any potential job to determine if it can help you advance your career goals. Are there opportunities for promotion or other advancement with the employer? Will any salary increase that accompanies those promotions be in line with your expectations? These and other questions should be answered if you have any interest in advancing in your chosen career field.
4. Does the salary or wage meet my needs?
No matter how great a job opportunity may seem, you will certainly be disappointed if the salary does not meet your expectations. You should take the time to determine how much compensation you need and do the research necessary to find out how much a given job generally pays. That information will help you to determine whether a prospective position is financially viable, while providing you invaluable insight that you will need during any salary negotiations.
5. Am I comfortable with the supervisor and potential coworkers?
If you have any experience in the workforce, you will already have a good idea about the types of supervisors and coworkers that you feel comfortable around. Try to reach out to potential coworkers to learn more about how they view their workplace environment. If they express any discomfort with their bosses or the company culture, that could be a warning sign. You can also use online resources to find out what others are saying about the company.
6. Will the opportunity provide the level of job security I desire?
One of the worst mistakes that you can make is to take a seemingly good job in an industry that provides no real job security. If the employer’s industry is in decline or the company has bad leadership, that could put you in line for an unexpected layoff. Take the time to research the company, the open position, and the overall state of the industry to get a better idea of the level of job security you can expect.
Focus on these three stages of the job search process
It is important to evaluate all these factors at each of three stages in the job search process. That will help to ensure that you have fully considered the job opportunity prior to accepting any offer.
1. Before you apply
Obviously, you can save a lot of time and energy by thoroughly researching each open position before you submit your resume. Carefully examine the posted job description to see how the role aligns with each of your listed priorities. This initial review can help to identify jobs that will not be a good fit, enabling you to focus your time and attention on better opportunities. If your instincts suggest that a position is not right for you, chances are that you should avoid that job.
Sometimes, the job description and other initial research will reveal obvious deal-breakers. For example, the job may require a longer commute than you are willing to accept, or the company may not offer the remote or hybrid work environment that you desire. The hours may not align with your lifestyle, or the compensation may be less than you need. Look for these types of clear warning signs as you research opportunities.
2. While interviewing
The interview process provides another layer of opportunity for determining if a job is the right fit. Pay attention to the types of questions the interviewer is asking, since these questions can offer clues about the company’s priorities. You should also select a few probing questions to ask the interviewer to get a better idea about the company’s values, leadership style, and the job you are seeking.
Just make sure that the questions you ask are designed to provide greater insight about those topics, expanding upon the information you learned during your research. A simple question like, “Can you describe my potential supervisor’s management style?” can help you to get a better idea of the type of manager you might be working with if you accept the job.
3. Before you accept a job offer
You should also do one more assessment prior to accepting any job offer. Too often, job seekers instinctively accept the first seemingly great employment offer that they receive, and then end up regretting that decision later. Before you agree to take the job, do a final review that once again checks to see if your most important concerns and priorities will be met. Do you fully understand the job’s expectations? Are you excited about the role, the work, and the company culture? Does the job seem right for your career advancement needs?
Summary
Naturally, there is no perfect answer to all these questions, and many people never find jobs that fit their every need. However, an honest assessment of how well the role aligns with your expectations can help you to better determine if a job is the right fit for you.
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Written by
ZipJob Team
The ZipJob team is made up of professional writers located across the USA and Canada with backgrounds in HR, recruiting, career coaching, job placement, and professional writing.
