Knowing who you are and what matters most to you is the first step on the road to career success. Combine this with the right research and strategy, and you’ll soon find yourself in the job that’s just right for you.
Stay Happy at Work
Every individual varies in their personality, attitude and values. An understanding of these differences is critical in optimizing your happiness and satisfaction at work.
- If you’re a full-time employee, you spend about a third of your life at work. So, you need your job to maximize your potential, keep you fulfilled and satisfied, and achieve a good balance with your personal life.
As defined by organizational psychology expert Adrian Furnham, “a fit is where there is congruence between the norms and values of the organization and those of the person.” For instance, an introvert prefers the seclusion of separate cubicles, and dislikes the noise and activity of an open-plan workspace, while an extrovert shows opposite preferences.
- Studies have shown that employees who fit well with their co-workers, managers and organizations have greater job satisfaction, identify more with their companies, are more likely to remain there, and are more committed to superior job performance.
- If your job fits your personality, you’re less likely to experience symptoms of stress, depression or anxiety – and you might even live longer. The average correlation between good culture fit and these positive outcomes equaled about 0.43. In other words, culture fit accounts for nearly half the variance between employees in terms of job satisfaction.
Is Your Work Culture Right For You?
Culture can be the engine that drives your passion – or the boulder that crushes your spirit and the stressor that keeps you up at night. Opting to work for a company without first considering its culture is a recipe for disaster.
- Consider culture fit before you even apply for a job. Know what best motivates and inspires you. Some people can zero in on this right away, while others have to give it longer, more careful thought before reaching the right conclusion.
- Talk to a company’s current and former employees. Interact with as many of them as possible, both before and during your interview process. Ask for a facility tour if you’re not offered one. During the tour, start with the physical space: Are there lots of private offices? Cubes? Open workspace? Then move on to how employees look and relate to each other. Are they happy, engaged and productive, or clock watchers, just waiting for the day to end?
Remember, as a company is evaluating you during the hiring process, you’re also assessing them. The whole point is to enter into a mutually beneficial relationship.
The experienced career counselors at PrideStaff Fresno can help ensure you find the right fit with potential employers. From access to jobs you may not otherwise hear about and fine-tuning your research and interviewing techniques through negotiating final offers, we’ll partner with you for ongoing success. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.