Find an organization with the “right fit”

June 18, 2008 5:04 pm Culture

Career counselors often tout three key areas that job seekers need to consider when trying to find the best job fit. These include:

1. Your interest in the position
2. Your abilities to succeed in the position
3. The appropriateness of the organization’s culture for you

Some people do not take any of these into account but rather are mainly concerned with income and benefits. Many more job seekers understand the importance of finding a job they are interested in and that they can succeed with. Unfortunately, it is the third area of cultural compatibility that often is under considered.

What is cultural compatibility? Simply stated, it is a desirable match between the employee’s personality and values and the organizational culture or values of the organization he or she works for. Why does this matter? After all, an employee’s job is to produce or create something of value for their employer. In return, they are to be paid a wage that is fair and acceptable to them for performing the work.

It does matter - Just ask the countless number of people who toil in positions that cause stress, heartache, values conflicts, family drama, and more. While these things can result from someone working a job they have no passion or ability to do, it more often comes from people performing work they do not believe in, feel is unethical, or feel has no value to themselves or society.

There is no guaranteed path to happiness in life or at work, but many career experts recommend that peace with work is a common characteristic of happy people. Job seekers need to ask questions and consider the culture and values of companies before taking a new position. It is often difficult for people once they start working to walk away from a paycheck. This is why some people spend years working jobs even though they struggle with many of the symptoms previously identified. People need to know the cultural elements and values that make an organization the right fit, and then find the right job within the right organization.