The achievements of any business rely entirely on the team of people associated with it – in particular, its employees. If you’re planning to seek employment, whether it is with a hot new startup or a long established business, it is critical for both you and the company that you create a good fit between your skills, talents and goals and the job being offered. Let’s discuss 4 signs that a job you’re considering will not be a good fit for you.
1. You Lack the Required Skills to Do the Job Well
Virtually every company creates a list of selection criteria for each employee they want to hire. Reviewing this list is usually going to be one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether the job will be a good fit for you or not.
If you meet the selection criteria, or most of it, that’s an encouraging sign that you could be a good fit for the role being offered. If you don’t, you will most likely have a hard time convincing the hiring manager at that company to give you a chance for the job.
For more help in understanding selection criteria, be sure to check out this page of selection criteria response examples.
2. The Company’s Values Don’t Match Yours
Every company operates using its own system of values. You’re likely to find that many organisations simply have the goal of turning a profit, with little regard to any tangible values beyond that. It’s ideal if you can find a company espousing corporate values that match your own personal values.
If you’re a staunch environmentalist, you’re likely to have an uncomfortable experience working in a manufacturing plant where the bosses don’t share your concern for the environment. Likewise, if you’re an advocate for social justice, fair wages and fair trade, you’ll probably want to avoid accepting a job with an importer that you believe is exploiting its suppliers or workers.
3. The Company Culture Makes You Uncomfortable
Each company’s culture is different. Subtle differences can even arise within the same company when new hires arrive or longtime employees leave the company.
Some companies encourage their employees to strive for individual achievement, and others reward employee teamwork and collaboration. If you’re a natural collaborator, it might make you feel a bit uncomfortable to find yourself amidst a seemingly competitive company culture. This sort of mismatch is a clear sign that the job is likely to be less than ideal for you.
4. The Boss Doesn’t Have Your Respect
There’s an old and tired, yet all too true, cliché in management:
<blockquote>“People don’t leave poor jobs. They leave poor managers.”</blockquote>
Many employees would solemnly attest to the truth in this statement.
When you interview, it’s wise to determine whether your new boss is someone you’d have a good rapport with. You’ll want to determine if this person might be a micromanager or would have a quick temper or would be horribly moody. Many workers would agree that it’s wise to avoid these types of bosses. While no boss is perfect, you don’t want to be stuck working with a boss who will drag you down when you could find one who will empower you to do your finest possible work.
If any of these signs are present, the job you’re considering, or working in, is probably not the ideal role for you. Establishing this early on can help you save a lot of time and frustration. When you’ve identified a poor fit between your professional goals and your prospective company’s culture and needs, it would be wise to consider other employment options.
