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Finding a good fit in a job can be more important than pay or benefits because it is the one most important thing that can make you feel good about your job. People who feel their job is a good fit are able to learn and grow, while those who have jobs that are bad fits risk ending up frustrated, possibly even leaving the job and ending up with poor references.
The most important first step to determining a good fit in a job is to know yourself and what you are looking for. Ask yourself whether you like change and what excites you the most about your work. It is also important to know what you don't want and can't tolerate from a workplace.
Once you know what your most important factors in a position are, you need to prepare for your interview. HR professionals need to get a sense not only of their own work environment but a sense of their potential employer's workers as well. Knowing what the workers are dealing with will tell you what issues you will be working on if you are hired. Search for information about the company's culture on its website as well as in articles about the company. If you are using a recruiter, don't be afraid to ask that person what he or she sees as the company's strengths and weaknesses. Recruiters look at every match as a marriage and in order for the match to be successful, compatibility is key. Finally, spend time preparing questions that will help you determine if the company's goals and objectives are in synch with your own.
Once you are at the interview, use your powers of perception to help you to determine if the fit will be right for you. Nonverbal clues can speak volumes about what is really going on in the department or in the company. If potential coworkers seem stoic and unexcited or are each giving conflicting messages about the goal of the department, the signs may be pointing toward an unengaged workplace.
Most importantly, pay attention to the fit with your potential new supervisor. Most people spend one-third of their time at work in the presence of their supervisor and nearly half their waking hours at work. Obviously, a great fit with this person will be key to your happiness and success. Ask good questions but also rely on your intuition to guide you. Does the person set you at ease right away? Do you find you have things in common to talk about? Most importantly, are your goals aligned? Mutual respect is also important. If in the interview, you get the feeling that you bring a lot more to the table than your primary interviewer, it's probably a sign the job may not be a good fit.
HR professionals should take comfort in the fact that the talents that have brought them to their profession, intuition and interpersonal skills, can be invaluable in helping them to find the right career fit in an interview situation.
The most important first step to determining a good fit in a job is to know yourself and what you are looking for. Ask yourself whether you like change and what excites you the most about your work. It is also important to know what you don't want and can't tolerate from a workplace.
Once you know what your most important factors in a position are, you need to prepare for your interview. HR professionals need to get a sense not only of their own work environment but a sense of their potential employer's workers as well. Knowing what the workers are dealing with will tell you what issues you will be working on if you are hired. Search for information about the company's culture on its website as well as in articles about the company. If you are using a recruiter, don't be afraid to ask that person what he or she sees as the company's strengths and weaknesses. Recruiters look at every match as a marriage and in order for the match to be successful, compatibility is key. Finally, spend time preparing questions that will help you determine if the company's goals and objectives are in synch with your own.
Once you are at the interview, use your powers of perception to help you to determine if the fit will be right for you. Nonverbal clues can speak volumes about what is really going on in the department or in the company. If potential coworkers seem stoic and unexcited or are each giving conflicting messages about the goal of the department, the signs may be pointing toward an unengaged workplace.
Most importantly, pay attention to the fit with your potential new supervisor. Most people spend one-third of their time at work in the presence of their supervisor and nearly half their waking hours at work. Obviously, a great fit with this person will be key to your happiness and success. Ask good questions but also rely on your intuition to guide you. Does the person set you at ease right away? Do you find you have things in common to talk about? Most importantly, are your goals aligned? Mutual respect is also important. If in the interview, you get the feeling that you bring a lot more to the table than your primary interviewer, it's probably a sign the job may not be a good fit.
HR professionals should take comfort in the fact that the talents that have brought them to their profession, intuition and interpersonal skills, can be invaluable in helping them to find the right career fit in an interview situation.
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