Finding Your Fit

We often hear about searching for a candidate that’s the right fit for the job, but we don’t talk as much about finding a job that’s the right fit for the candidate. When you’re searching for a job, it’s important to consider several factors that will help determine your satisfaction at the organization and how long you will stay. Of course, pay is always a factor, but it doesn’t hold as much weight as you might expect. Things like location of the company, flexibility of scheduling, time off, health benefits, opportunities for growth, and the values of the organization are very influential in the appeal of the job.

While your employment should benefit the organization, you also want to find a job that will benefit you and bring you fulfillment. That looks different for everyone, so keep that in mind when researching the job you’re applying for. If you love to travel, you might want to look for a job that gives you vacation time or allows you to work remotely. If you need to prioritize your family, you might want to consider a job that allows you to be home by a certain time every day or that is flexible so that you can pick up and drop off your kids and take them to appointments. If you’re looking to climb up the professional ladder, you will want to find a job that provides opportunities for advancement, or you might want a job where you can work under a mentor.

Whatever your priorities and personal values are, it’s important to find an organization that allows you to pursue such things. When the values of the organization are out of alignment with your own values, it creates discontentment. When an employee is unhappy in their position, it prevents them from reaching their full potential, which is bad for the company as well. That’s why even if you are a good fit for the job itself, you need to be able to do work in a place that brings you fulfillment. The job must also fit you.

In the same way that companies put out a list of qualifications and specifications for a job posting, you can write out a list of criteria that would make the job a good fit for you. Then, search job listings as if they are candidates that are applying to you. Once you think you have found a good match, send in your resume and see where things go. We are currently in a market that has more openings than people to fill them, so don’t rush into something that you don’t feel confident about. Find your fit, and take the next step in your professional journey.

-Meghan Slaughter