Am I Really a Good Fit for That Job?

Are you looking for direction in your career?

Have you recently been applying for jobs and getting rejected? Or perhaps you’re a new graduate who is trying to decide which jobs to apply for now that it’s time to join the workforce. Either way, this is a great time to calibrate your personal GPS. Here are some tips to help you decide if you’re wondering, Am I really a good fit for that job?

1. Become more self-aware. Take a crash course on yourself! You can do this in several ways. For instance, create a set of questions to try out on your closest friends to learn how you impact them and how they see you. You may be surprised at what you learn! Also, take a personality test such as 16Personalities.com (it’s free!) to learn more about your strengths and weaknesses. Another great way to learn where you should focus your energy is to read Strengthsfinder 2.0, which includes an assessment to help you know yourself better.
2. Define what roles and environment will help you thrive. Now that you know yourself a little better, spend some time thinking about past situations where you’ve been at your best. What elements were present in those situations? What type of management style did your teacher, supervisor, or manager use to get your top performance from you? Did you get to exercise certain skills that just seemed to click? Have you discovered that you have–or lack–aptitude in a certain area? Paying attention to where your past successes and failures have occurred can give you direction for your future.
3. Learn more about the company culture. Understanding what you need to thrive will help you narrow down the jobs for which you should apply. Before you fill out an organization’s application, learn everything you can about them. It’s especially helpful if you have a connection who can tell you what it’s really like there. Understanding a company’s personality is key to assessing whether your own personality would thrive or feel mismatched in its day-to-day environment.
4. Keep your expectations realistic. No matter how many leadership classes you’ve taken or awards you’ve won, or whether you were at the top of your class, you’re still going to be the newbie when you get hired, cautions Scott Kuethen, Amtec’s CEO. As you scan job descriptions, read them with a dose of humility. Be prepared to start at the bottom, and you’ll be grateful when you do get a promotion or the chance to lead.

If you’ve been asking yourself, Am I really a good fit for that job, using our career move scorecard may help you solidify your direction. Don’t be one of those job seekers who applies to a position even though they’re ill-suited for its requirements, says Miriam Salpeter, a contributer to USNews.com. She encourages candidates to honestly self-assess their personality, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. “You will be better prepared for interviews, and when you’re honest about whether you’re a good fit for the job, you’ll have a better chance of landing the interview.”

We want you to succeed! When you do get the job, read this to help you start off well.