My mother once told me that no job (and no man for that matter!) is perfect. Is your job perfect for you? Do you know what would be your perfect job? My mom might be right. Maybe there isn’t such a thing as a perfect job. However, it would be helpful to know what your ideal job is in order to try to get as close a match as possible.
If you find yourself scanning the help wanted ads every Sunday, there may be a bad fit between you and your organization. You need to find a job and an organization where you will be happy and productive. You may be very skilled at what you do, but if your needs are not met and your personality does not match that of the organization’s culture, you may not be satisfied or successful there.
So how do you go about identifying and finding your ideal job? The key is when researching and interviewing companies, you need to get to know your potential employer just as much as they need to get to know you. Somethings you may want to investigate include:
- The culture and values of the organization
- The personalities and skills that are successful in this environment
- What your opportunities are in this organization
- How this organization takes care of its employees
- If this organization has a bright future
People have different needs. What you want is different from what I want; and what you want today may very well differ from what you wanted in the past. Essentially, you need to identify what your needs are and what rewards you value and then find the job and organization that offer them.
Here are some questions to ask yourself regarding your needs:
* What kind of salary is offered now and in the future?
* What are my learning and development opportunities?
* What is the type of boss and co-workers I work well with?
* Am I an independent worker or do I like continuous supervision?
* Do I like change and differences in my job and in my work environment?
* Do I like structure or flexibility?
* Is money the most important reward to me or are other benefits important, such as lifestyle and amount of vacation?
Once you begin to answer these questions you can work on finding your ideal job. Start by researching companies, reading about them, and talking to people who work there. Hearsay may be more accurate than what the company representative will tell you. Yet, if you’re interviewing, there is no better time to ask these questions. Most people think that an interview is when the company asks you questions, but you have every right to interview them also. The following are some questions you can ask in an interview:
* What do you, as a supervisor, value most in an employee?
* How would you describe people who have been successful in this position and in this company?
* Do you see this position growing in the future? How?
* What would be a typical career path in this organization?
* What are my opportunities for self-development?
* What are the organization’s future goals and plans?
* What are the organization’s strengths and weaknesses?
* How does the organization determine its current and future needs?
* Who are the customers and how are their needs and input considered?
* Could you tell me some of the reasons people like working here?
Choosing the right company is just as much your responsibility as the employer’s. If you are proactive and find a workplace where your skills and personality are a good fit, you are much more likely to be successful.
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By: Rose Opengart, Interviews That Work
© 2018, Rose Opengart, Interviews That Work