In my column in the Sunday, March 28 Houston Chronicle Jobs section, I address a reader question about searching for the perfect job. The reader was concerned that someone they knew was turning down offer after offer in search of the perfect job while putting their financial well-being in jeopardy.
It’s hard to know when a job is just right. If you do your research, and you know about a potential employer’s business and corporate culture, you’re way ahead in the decision-making process, because you can decide using your head, not just your gut.
If you have watched others around you lose their jobs through company restructuring or downsizing, it can cause you to focus on making sure the job is the right match, but this can keep you in a guessing mode about making good choices.
But, there’s more to the decision-making process. A good way to determine if the job is a good match is to reflect on earlier work experiences. Compare what made you the happiest in those jobs to the opportunity you’re now considering. What did you like best and find most rewarding about your roles and responsibilities? Do you see similar qualities in the offer you’re now considering? While jobs and duties change, those qualities of the job that are most rewarding may be what makes the difference between a and just another paycheck and a dream job.
Don’t overlook the human factor, either. Sometimes it’s not the job itself that is perfect – but the work culture and the people you work with – those are the ingredients that often make a job seem perfect.
I do have one cautionary note: The flip side of waiting for the perfect job to come along is taking a job that is not a good match, then leaving after a short tenure. This can create a barrier for potential employers. If you have a track record of accepting jobs, then quitting after six months, you may give employers the feeling you are always job searching and are unsure of what interests you.They may wonder how long you’d stay with their company, too. Remember, employers have a problem: They need to fill their jobs. But if they think they’ll just have to fill your job again in a matter of months, you may get passed over.
And a final thought about the perfect job: Many times, job seekers develop the notion that a job will meet all their needs. They end up rejecting good job offers because they believe if a job doesn’t look like it will be their overwhelming passion, it won’t be a good job. The search for a job that makes you feel fulfilled is a common factor in career dissatisfaction , and basing your happiness on landing the perfect job can be a signal that something is missing from your life. Sometimes, it’s what you make of a good opportunity that turns it into a passion.
I wonder if there’s anyone who can share an experience of finding the perfect job in an less-than-perfect job offer? Care to share?
