Finding the right job is extremely difficult

When you're looking for the right job, you have to take a myriad of factors into account:

Do the hours suit you? Is overtime expected?
Is the culture to your liking?
Does your personality fit the culture and demands of the job?
Are you okay with the distance to and from work?
Are the salary and benefits sufficient?
What is the room for growth like?
Do you feel you'd get along well with your supervisor?
Does the job require travel? If so, would you be okay with that?

Unfortunately, the answers to most of these questions will likely remain a mystery until you've been working there for a while. It's impossible to decipher what the culture will be like when you've only sat for one or two interviews.

That's why I recommend that people do their research beforehand. Visit sites like glassdoor.com for any reviews that current or former employees may have written about the company. Perhaps you notice that a friend of a friend on Linkedin works at the company, and you can get some information and tips from her. It goes without saying that the internet is an invaluable tool to leverage during the job-hunting process.

I must have sat for over 100 interviews over the last couple of years. As much as I tried to assess during the interview whether the job would be a good fit, I never knew for sure until I had been working there at least a month. I actually wound up resigning from two jobs after realizing that they were poor fits for my personality.

I wanted something structured that kept me at my desk the whole day. The jobs, both at non-profits, required me to be out and about, constantly interfacing with various departments and third parties.

Unfortunately, I had the arduous task of finding a good job while the country was in the throes of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Sooner or later, I had to settle on something. I ended up finding a job in the hospitality industry, which I've worked in ever since and find to be quite exciting.

I realize that priorities like putting food on the table preclude us from having the time and flexibility to pick and choose which jobs we want. But if you ever sense that what you're about to get into would be a horrible fit -- whether because of the hours, pay, or culture -- you might be better holding off until something better comes your way.

Comments

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

An important note to women about men and attraction

I was raised by my mom, grandma, and two older sisters. Growing up, never did I ever take any interest in the girls at school who tended toward exposing more skin. I always treated them as I would my female family members -- with the utmost courtesy and respect. And anytime I suspected that a male friend or acquaintance of mine adopted a hump-and-dump attitude toward women, I nixed them from my life. I held men who treated women as objects in very low regard, and still do to this day. If women feel empowered to show off their bodies because they love and work hard on their physique, more power to them. In other words, if they're doing it to please THEMSELVES and no one else, good for them. However, those who do it specifically to curry men's favor are making a big mistake. It sends the wrong signals and actually makes it less likely that a man will want to stick around for a committed relationship (if that's what you want as anyway). Granted, if you're not lookin...

How To Understand People

Search This Blog