How to Know if a Job is Right For You – Before You Say “I do”. Richard White Human existence and everything in between is fraught with uncertainties. Even when you make the right decisions, you have that little voice of reason asking you what next. And just as it is with every other thing that matters to you, the right job is all important. You are sure that you are the best fit for a particular job; you considered it a good offer but you are quite skeptical about the job, not sure if you are making the right move, especially if your current job is not so bad. Not yet… Right, there is no perfect job, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility of having a swell time doing something you are good at. No matter how interesting an offer seems, some jobs aren’t right for you. And you can find that dream job for the first time, even though it doesn’t work out for everyone. The popular line of thought that you only get to know if a job is right for you while you are on the job is really wrong because a little attention to details during the interview and right before you say “I do” to a potential boss gives you a brief insight into what working in that organisation would be like. Here’s how to go about this: Consider why you want the job. Don’t jump ship if you are not clear about why you are leaving your current job, and even if this would be your first job, you want to be sure it aligns with your career big picture. Determine your goals before you go for an interview; even better, before you apply for a job. Decide whether the job matches your reasons to work. Suppose your focus is to find a job that offers learning opportunities in a specific field such as Human Resources; an assistant HR position in a big organisation can be a great opportunity. But it would be a mismatch if you have no interest in HR. Don’t focus so much on getting any job that you lose the opportunity to pay more attention to something more essential; a job that will allow you make a difference and that gives you some sort of fulfillment in the sense of it. What are your most important needs? We all have our preferences in our jobs and your happiness is dependent on how much these preferences align with the job function. Before you hop on the job, preferably before the interview; outline what you consider a top need to be filled. The opportunity to work autonomously? Or the flexibility of schedule? Collaboration? Be sure your prospective employer’s policies and procedures meet those needs. Don’t assume anything; not all employers have the same policies. Just because you had flexible working hours in your previous workplace doesn’t make it obvious that you would need the same in this one. Make a mental note of your priorities and discuss them before you accept an offer. If you can’t bear the thought of missing your daughter’s PTA meetings and your job doesn’t allow telecommuting on occasions, you are sure to feel miserable once you start working. Who are your would-be colleagues? Find out who your direct supervisor is, and try to gather some information about him and the other decision makers. Get inside information. Ask around – are your prospective team- mates happy with their boss? If 9 out of 10 answer in the negative. Don’t expect anything different. You are sure to meet your future boss sometime during the interview process. Whether it is the supervisor of a big organisation or the CEO of a small firm, focus on your interaction. This would give you ideas around how well you can get along on the job. A prospective boss’ first impression might be wrong, but more than half the time; your judgement would be right. If you don’t like the person from day one, your life as an employee under him/her might turn out to be what you feared – horrible. Pay attention to details. Don’t get stuck in the rut. You can fool everybody around, but if a job doesn’t work for you, it won’t be any good for your career and your life. Until you explore both your options and opportunities, you may never find a job that suits you well. Attention to details during your interview can save a lot of hassle for you and for the employer. If you are not sure about the organisation, the boss, or anything else, you had better give it a good thought before you accept an offer. You could manage in a makeshift arrangement; knowing you’d be out soon. Be cautious however, a stop- gap can kill your enthusiasm to search for a job that brings you closer to your career goal – don’t get comfortable with the arrangement. By Richard White
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 06:38:24 +0000
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