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7 Ways to Find Your Perfect Job

Of all the questions asked, answered, and fretted about during the dating game between job seeker and employer, applicants often forget one that should be directed at themselves: Is this opportunity a good fit? Figuring that out is less science, more art, says Reesa Staten, director of workplace research for staffing firm Robert Half International. “People need to take that extra step to not just envision what they’ll be doing but where they’ll be working and who they will be working with every day.” Related News

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Getting a clear picture requires the hefty task of learning as much as you can before and during the interview process about the company culture and the management style of your future boss. Among the mismatches you may discover: The firm is team oriented, but you work better on your own. The company resists innovation, but you have an entrepreneurial spirit. Your boss would employ a hands-off approach, but being closely managed makes you more productive.

1) To help you assess a company’s work environment, search the Web to read what other people are saying about the organization in news articles, for instance, or blogs.

2) You should also see what the employer says about itself on its website. Online management bios can be particularly helpful. “If you learn the management of a company is all brand new, what does that tell you about the company?” says Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer of the recruitment firm Adecco Group North America. “That it’s probably going to be getting ready for a lot of change. Are you OK with that? Are you a change agent, or do you like things to be very status quo?”

3) Be sure to mine the knowledge of your network, which probably is bigger than you think if you use online networking sites like LinkedIn. “Things like networking are still the most paramount piece of a job search, because that’s when you get in and learn about the company and about successful people in the company,” says Jay Hargis, managing partner of Talent Insight Group, a human-resources consulting firm.

4) You should also speak with people you’d be working with in the company. Ask them why they like working there, what makes people succeed and fail, and what the culture is like.

5) Simply observing the workplace can yield important clues as well. Hargis suggests taking notice of the following during interview visits: Is the office clean and modern or furnished with old furniture and nothing’s been painted in 10 years? Are people walking through the hallways smiling? Were you greeted, or did you walk into an empty lobby? Are there awards on the walls? “Those are good indicators of what the climate’s like,” he says.

A quick case study: Last fall, when Randy Zimmerman went to interview for a sales position at yellow pages publisher Idearc Media, he saw motivational posters and daily sales results hanging on the walls. He says he took those as signs that the culture was competitive and that the company wanted to keep people excited.

During his interviews, he was particularly interested in learning whether he could be creative in his sales. A former employer that marketed pharmaceutical products limited flexibility by requiring sales representatives to follow strict guidelines. Zimmerman found working at a company with such a regimented structure to be tedious.

When he asked his Idearc interviewers about a sales rep’s typical day and what employees needed to do to be successful, he learned that “the culture is such that they want you to make it your own,” Zimmerman says. “They strongly encourage creativity when you’re in front of the customer and also when you’re prospecting.” Zimmerman took the advertising consultant position and now works with businesses in and around Dallas and Fort Worth.

But while fitting in with the company is keyhere is a Workplace Culture Calculator from OfficeTeamit is also important to mesh with your direct supervisor. “To me, that relationship has the biggest impact on your job satisfaction,” says Staten of Robert Half.

6) Staten encourages job seekers to ask managers pointed questions not only about what it’s like to work at the company but also what it’s like to work for them. “Your boss’s working style should be a fit for your working style,” Staten says. Some questions worth asking: What is your ideal employee? How will you evaluate my performance? How do you define success in your employees? How do you like to manage products and people?

7) Ultimately, trust your instincts. “If you’re getting a sense you guys don’t have a chemistry, that maybe this isn’t the right fit for you,” Staten says, “I think that says a lot.”

For many people, the answer to the question, “Do you like your job?” changes depending on what day you ask. Maybe you can relate to this see-saw of emotions when it comes to your 9-to-5. So how does an employee know when it’s really, truly time to move on-and not a temporary sentiment that will pass tomorrow or next week? There are some guidelines, both internal (how you feel inside) and external (what feedback you’re getting from your interpersonal relationships) that provide clues. Keep in mind, however, that every situation is different, and you should ultimately make an informed choice that is best for yourself, your family, and your health.

You’re sick of it-literally. If you’re sick all the time, your body is saying, “Run-do not walk-to the nearest exit.” Your workplace could be making you sick in a number of ways. Your office may subtly (or not so subtly) discourage employees from using sick days. So everybody comes to work sick, and you spend half the year at the doctor’s office getting prescriptions for antibiotics. Or maybe you’re suffering from stress-related illnesses: constant headaches, body aches, fatigue that never goes away, sleeplessness, and even hair loss. Endless stress can manifest itself in the physical signs above, but it can also take a toll on your mental health, causing depression and other serious consequences. You should never be asked to sacrifice your health for the sake of your job.

There’s nowhere to go. If you mastered your job duties three years ago and haven’t been challenged since, you’re probably bored out of your mind all day. If you aren’t being given an opportunity to advance at your company-or if the only position above yours is “owner”-you may need to look outside your current organization.

You’re only paranoid if nobody’s out to get you. Sometimes the office can feel likehigh school all over the again: the cliques, the gossip, the jealousy. If poor relationships with co-workers are making you miserable or preventing you from doing your job effectively, the sad truth is that the situation is probably not going to improve significantly. If you’ve tried the usual HR routes to get a disagreement or personality conflict resolved and nothing has happened, you may want to investigate another job where the atmosphere is friendlier and more conducive to-gasp!-actually working.

Your boss isn’t crazy about you. Dealing with cruddy co-workers is one thing, but there’s nothing more demoralizing than feeling like your boss is out to get you. It’s possible that you’re just being overly sensitive, but if “sensitive” isn’t how most people would describe you, you may be onto something very real. Sometimes bosses lose confidence in employees for solid reasons: slipping performance, coming in late and leaving early, an overheard phone call or e-mail criticizing the company or boss, etc. But other times, there doesn’t seem to be a reason for the changing demeanor. If you’re being left out of meetings, your work load or job responsibilities are decreasing, and you’re just plain getting the cold shoulder, she may be trying to manipulate you into quitting or is planning to fire you soon. Before you do anything drastic, however, talk to your boss about your perception. If you’re not satisfied after that meeting, get out the “help wanted” section and start looking!

You’re not comfortable with your job duties. You should absolutely refuse to perform illegal activities for your boss-it’s better to be out of a job than to risk going to jail. But what about those gray areas somewhere below illegal? Some people may have the stomach for a job that requires unethical activity, but if you don’t, again, your boss probably won’t have an epiphany about ethics and change your job description. Better to look at opportunities in another organization.

Your family is being compromised. It could be the best job in the world, but if it’s wreaking havoc on your family life, you probably shouldn’t continue. Maybe you’re asked to put in grueling hours, have a long commute that puts you home after the kids are in bed, or travel extensively. Whatever the reason, if your spouse and/or kids are unhappy-and have been for some time-you may want to rethink your job.

You want to quit. This last item is a catch-all of reasons why you simply want to quit your job. Maybe you’ve been offered a better position elsewhere, or maybe you want to stay home with your kids. If your gut is telling you it’s time to quit, it’s a good idea to listen. And remember that nothing is forever. If you decide down the road that you made a mistake, you can always talk to your boss about coming back or explore possibilities elsewhere.

Jason Kay recommends that you learn more job search strategies at JobGoRound.com. Read customer reviews of professional resume writing services, learn the best cover letter tips, and submit your resume for a free resume analysis at JobGoRound.com.

Hunt Your Own Head

A recent Forrester Research report found that 60% of those aged 25 to 34 rely on the Internet to search and apply for jobs. However, the same study showed that job seekers are receiving poor performance from both traditional job sites, as well as the external job search sites at individual firms. Neither finding is likely to appeal to business executives looking to tap into the power of the Internet to drive their own job searches to a successful conclusion.

Enter TheLadders.com, an online marketplace that looks to capture the C-suite niche by focusing solely on jobs that pay more than $100,000.

Founded back in 2003, TheLadders.com has grown into the largest specialty employment Web site with more than 2 million members and more than 35,000 recruiters. In addition to traditional online job search services, TheLadders.com also provides a host of specialized career development resources, including a proven, one-on-one resume service; advice from career experts; customized online profiles; and e-mail alerts.

According to the company, the site’s purpose is to introduce the efficiency of social networking into executive job placement. As in most social networks, the benefit is in the connection. On the one hand, recruiters at large companies get the ability to quickly and easily connect with qualified talent in sales, marketing, finance, HR, legal, technology and operations industries. On the other hand, job seekers “of a certain level” get their search narrowed for them as well as a set of ancillary services.

Ernie Southers is one such executive who says the process went more smoothly than past headhunter experiences. “I stumbled across the Web site and looked deeper, and when I saw the type of job and employers I was interested in were easily accessible, I was hooked,” he says. “Within a couple of weeks, I had a reply from a recruiter.” Southers, who now serves as a manufacturing materials manager at a multinational conglomerate, remembers that he had other replies as well, but hit a home run on his first swing. “The first job was perfect fit,” he says.

As far as the type of “cost creep” that typifies headhunter experiences, Southers experienced none. “On top of the successful interview there were no expenses for me above The Ladders’ membership fee,” he recalls.

During the course of my business career, I have interviewed literally hundreds of candidates for various positions. Some people make the cut. But more often, I wind up saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

I can think of dozens of reasons I might pass on a particular candidate. Maybe she’s rude during the interview. Maybe he shows up in jeans and a T-shirt to meet with me. Or maybe she just doesn’t have that “it” factor I’m looking for.

But many who seem to have the whole package still get passed over when they’re looking for a job. Because of that sad fact of life, young people often ask me for advice about how to ace the interview process. In fact, I got one such e-mail just the other day. Evan from Seattle wrote:

“I am 25 years old and graduated from college in English Literature, just over a year ago. While going to school, I worked for one of the major retail chains, which allowed me to pay for my own schooling. Straight out of college, I landed an internship with a promising but small start-up company. After my internship, the company hired me on full-time in marketing, where I have since been working. Though the company continues to grow, I often feel bored, a bit underutilized, and unchallenged. I have spoken with our CEO and other coworkers to see if there are more responsibilities I can take on, but to no avail.

“I am considering changing companies, and am looking into pursuing an opportunity in a more established Fortune 500 type firm. Being an English major (as opposed to having a specialized Business degree) gives me a certain degree of insecurity when applying and interviewing for jobs. Do you have any rock-solid advice on the job interview process? I know a few of the basics - like remaining calm and collected while selling my best qualities and showing how I will help improve the company. What else might you recommend?”

Here’s my response to Evan. (And if you are in a similar situation, pay close attention.)

First of all, Evan, before you jump ship, examine what is going on in your current position. You say you obtained an internship straight out of college - and after the internship, you were hired on full-time in the company’s marketing department. You also said that you have been out of college a little over a year. So you only have a year’s worth of marketing experience.

If you came to me as a job candidate and you told me all that… along with the fact that your employer’s company continues to grow (during a time where the majority of start-ups are failing)… and mentioned that you have asked others in your company (including your CEO) for more responsibility to no avail, I would wonder the following:

* Are you doing your current job to the fullest?

That means doing the tasks you don’t like to do… and the tasks you may not think are important but are still a part of your job.

Just yesterday, an ETR team member told me that he did not think he was moving up fast enough. During our discussion, I named three very specific responsibilities of his job that he has yet to do on a regular basis or has not done at all. I explained that until an employee does his or her current job to the fullest - and does so with pride and enthusiasm - I will not move them up or assign additional responsibilities. I did, however, make sure he knew why those tasks are important and how, by doing them, he would help our company’s bottom line.

* Do you have a good attitude?

I have written about this before in ETR.

Do you come in and complain about being bored and underutilized? Remember, not only does everyone dislike a complainer… they avoid complainers like the plague.

* Are you a team player?

If you have completed your tasks for the day and you see someone struggling to get work done, do you offer to give them a hand… regardless of how large or small their task may be?

Can you honestly answer yes to all the above questions, Evan? If not, you may want to take another look at how you’ve been approaching your current job. But if you can, then it is time to start looking.

And here’s some advice for your job hunt that will help you impress any prospective boss.

How to Ace a Job Interview

1. Don’t be intimated because you were an English Literature major and not a Business major.

I majored in Theater Arts in college, and that has worked to my advantage throughout my career. My theater background taught me how to look at situations, procedures, and challenges and make them my own. It taught me that things don’t have to be done the same old way. More important, being a theater major taught me how to think clearly and concisely. And that offering an idea that may not be useable at that particular time was better than offering no idea at all. The things I learned as a result of my major have helped me make a conscious decision to surround myself with people and companies that encourage and promote good ideas.

A business degree can certainly be helpful, but it is not necessary. The ability to think on your own and come up with good ideas should be more important than any degree in the eyes of a potential employer.

2. Do your homework.

I am always taken aback when a job candidate shows up for the interview without first having checked out ETR’s website. If they don’t do the basic footwork up front, my feeling is they would not go the extra mile if they got the job.

So before you interview for any position, go to the company’s website. Use the information on the site to get a good understanding of their business. Look at their product line. Study their marketing. If they have an e-newsletter, subscribe to it. If they have a blog, read it.

But that’s not all the homework you should do. You should also go to the company’s competitors’ websites to develop a broader understanding of their industry. In the Internet Age, there is simply no excuse for not knowing this stuff - the stuff that will make you shine during the interview.

3. Be prepared to discuss how you keep up with new marketing strategies.

I love job candidates who read. People who read books on marketing, read newsletters on marketing, and attend marketing conferences and events are clearly interested in the field. Plus, their love of learning shows me they won’t be happy with the status quo.

4. Listen.

I can’t stress this enough. Yes, you may be anxious to answer the interviewer’s questions. But don’t interrupt. You want to show that you respect your colleagues and supervisors.

In fact, interrupting can be a deal breaker for me. I don’t care how smart someone is. If they don’t respect the company and the people who work there, I don’t want them in my organization.

So, Evan, I hope this helps. Please let us know how your job search goes. And remember… I am always looking for smart, enthusiastic marketing people.

MaryEllen Tribby is the Publisher and CEO of Early to Rise. For a complimentary subscription to the Internet’s most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine, visit EarlytoRise.com.