Joining the workforce is a daunting milestone, especially as entry-level positions become fewer and further between. As companies continue to downsize, students who have yet to begin the job hunt are told that unemployment is sadly inevitable upon entering the “real world.” But even with all this stress and uncertainty, the perfect job will eventually present itself—you just need to find your fit.
Your fit within a company’s culture is crucial when looking for a job. Derek Chapman, a psychology professor at the University of Calgary and founder and president of CounterpartMatch.com, says that in order to stay in any job permanently, your values and goals need to be consistent with those of the company.
“Ultimately it’s up to the employer to make sure that they hire people that fit their company,” he says. Unfortunately, it is difficult for employers to consider an applicant’s fit when hiring, because most job interviews fail to cover the proper questions.
“When people say they are hiring for fit, it can be dangerous because they’re using these interviews and subconsciously selecting people who look and are a lot like them,” says Chapman.
To better predict an applicant’s fit within a company, employers need to better tailor their interview questions to the specific position. By objectively assessing a candidate’s personality, the employer can then get a better sense of whether that person will fit well with the values of the company.
“On average it costs about two times a person’s salary to replace them,” says Chapman. “Training cost, lost productivity… it’s in an employer’s best interest to make sure an applicant will be a good fit.”
It is in your best interest, too, to analyze a company’s culture before accepting a job. To do so, Chapman says it is important to consider these factors: dominance, innovation, trendiness, prestige, friendliness, traditional values, corporate social responsibility, and pace. By looking at these variables in regard to specific companies, you can better predict if your personality will be a good fit.
Dominance
The dominance of a company helps formulate its culture. Things like size and hierarchical structure are things an applicant should research prior to accepting an interview. As well, by analyzing your own work habits, you gain a better sense of whether you’ll thrive at a highly structured company or one that is more intimate.
Innovation
If a company is highly innovative, it is constantly changing. “Some people thrive on that change and like to create new things,” says Chapman. “Other people prefer to get comfortable with doing something a certain way and mastering that.”
Trendiness
Looking at the popularity of a company can help you make an informed decision about whether or not you would enjoy working there. “Some people are really attracted to that trendiness, and some are turned off by it and prefer a more humble type of place,” says Chapman.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Companies with strong corporate social responsibility prove to be environmentally friendly and prioritize internal relationships. “Some applicants are attracted to the social justice values of companies whereas others believe that their job is to make their employers a lot of money and, in turn, be well rewarded themselves,” says Chapman. Anyone who believes profit should be a company’s main (or only) goal would most likely do better in a culture with low social responsibility.
Pace
If you are motivated by tight deadlines and time-driven work, a fast-paced company is where you need to be. For those who prefer to work at their own speed, try reaching out to companies that progress more gradually.
It took Chapman and his students three years to identify these factors, among others, as important indicators of a company’s culture: “Our research shows these are predictors of whether people are happy or unhappy in that company; whether they end up ultimately leaving it.”
For many new to the job market, finding a job within their field seems impossible enough, let alone one with a suitable culture. But as positions present themselves, Chapman says it’s better to wait for the right fit than to sacrifice something that could have been your motivation to thrive.
“My advice is not necessarily to take the first thing that’s available… sometimes taking the time waiting for a better opportunity is the best course of action,” he says.
Just as important as experience, education or qualification, you need to be consistent with the company’s culture if you hope to land your dream job. By taking the time to predict your fit, you heighten the chances of landing a job you love—it just requires a little patience.for more info, check out avant career
Your fit within a company’s culture is crucial when looking for a job. Derek Chapman, a psychology professor at the University of Calgary and founder and president of CounterpartMatch.com, says that in order to stay in any job permanently, your values and goals need to be consistent with those of the company.
“Ultimately it’s up to the employer to make sure that they hire people that fit their company,” he says. Unfortunately, it is difficult for employers to consider an applicant’s fit when hiring, because most job interviews fail to cover the proper questions.
“When people say they are hiring for fit, it can be dangerous because they’re using these interviews and subconsciously selecting people who look and are a lot like them,” says Chapman.
To better predict an applicant’s fit within a company, employers need to better tailor their interview questions to the specific position. By objectively assessing a candidate’s personality, the employer can then get a better sense of whether that person will fit well with the values of the company.
“On average it costs about two times a person’s salary to replace them,” says Chapman. “Training cost, lost productivity… it’s in an employer’s best interest to make sure an applicant will be a good fit.”
It is in your best interest, too, to analyze a company’s culture before accepting a job. To do so, Chapman says it is important to consider these factors: dominance, innovation, trendiness, prestige, friendliness, traditional values, corporate social responsibility, and pace. By looking at these variables in regard to specific companies, you can better predict if your personality will be a good fit.
Dominance
The dominance of a company helps formulate its culture. Things like size and hierarchical structure are things an applicant should research prior to accepting an interview. As well, by analyzing your own work habits, you gain a better sense of whether you’ll thrive at a highly structured company or one that is more intimate.
Innovation
If a company is highly innovative, it is constantly changing. “Some people thrive on that change and like to create new things,” says Chapman. “Other people prefer to get comfortable with doing something a certain way and mastering that.”
Trendiness
Looking at the popularity of a company can help you make an informed decision about whether or not you would enjoy working there. “Some people are really attracted to that trendiness, and some are turned off by it and prefer a more humble type of place,” says Chapman.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Companies with strong corporate social responsibility prove to be environmentally friendly and prioritize internal relationships. “Some applicants are attracted to the social justice values of companies whereas others believe that their job is to make their employers a lot of money and, in turn, be well rewarded themselves,” says Chapman. Anyone who believes profit should be a company’s main (or only) goal would most likely do better in a culture with low social responsibility.
Pace
If you are motivated by tight deadlines and time-driven work, a fast-paced company is where you need to be. For those who prefer to work at their own speed, try reaching out to companies that progress more gradually.
It took Chapman and his students three years to identify these factors, among others, as important indicators of a company’s culture: “Our research shows these are predictors of whether people are happy or unhappy in that company; whether they end up ultimately leaving it.”
For many new to the job market, finding a job within their field seems impossible enough, let alone one with a suitable culture. But as positions present themselves, Chapman says it’s better to wait for the right fit than to sacrifice something that could have been your motivation to thrive.
“My advice is not necessarily to take the first thing that’s available… sometimes taking the time waiting for a better opportunity is the best course of action,” he says.
Just as important as experience, education or qualification, you need to be consistent with the company’s culture if you hope to land your dream job. By taking the time to predict your fit, you heighten the chances of landing a job you love—it just requires a little patience.for more info, check out avant career
