It’s a great job, but is it right for you?
You come across a job, and at first glance it looks perfect! It features a great company, industry, and even salary. The more you learn about it, the more excited you get. Before you jump in and accept that offer, or even interview, make sure you examine whether or not that opportunity is a fit for you when it comes to key areas such as job responsibilities, culture, and logistics. This is where your self-awareness comes into play.
In terms of job responsibilities, even more important than asking if you can do the job, is do you want to do the job? Your actual job duties may be a far cry from what you really want to do. You may love the field of finance, but if the position requires forty plus hours behind a desk each week crunching numbers rather than interacting with clients regarding economic strategy as you would prefer, will you be happy? You need to ask yourself if that job will provide career fulfillment, because without it you may encounter a lack of motivation that can affect your performance.
Culture is very important when it comes to your career. Both you and a potential employer should consider whether or not you are a fit for a company’s culture. You can find out about their culture by researching the company, asking specific questions about it in your interview, or soliciting information from people in your network that are familiar with that company or industry. I’ve seen what happens when there is a disconnect between an employee and the company culture. I worked at an agency where the work was intense, but it was a fun and casual environment. I witnessed more than one employee that loved the concept of the work but needed more structure, which resulted in poor performance and eventual dismissal.
When I say logistics, I mean how you will operate given the demands of the job. Some things to consider are your commute, any travel that may be required for the position, and the hours you will be expected to dedicate to the job. Are you the kind of person that doesn’t like to travel? Then don’t accept a job that requires your presence at extensive on-site client meetings or events. Do you despise commuting? Then why would you accept a job that requires an hour drive in the car each way? And if you want to leave your work behind you when you walk out that door at five o’clock, then by all means avoid positions that require you to be on-call after hours.
At first you may think that since a job seems so wonderful, you can make it work despite challenges that pit your needs and desires against what is required of you professionally. However over time, those challenges will add up and it could become more and more difficult to succeed. Embrace your self-awareness and find out what you like, what you can do, and where you want to go. If you do that and then match what you learn with potential opportunities, there’s a good chance you’ll find the next stop on your road to career success!
