Finding the right job is like buying a pair of shoes.

If you buy a pair of shoes that don’t fit, sooner or later your feet hurt, and you can longer bear to wear them.

In exactly the same way, if you don’t spend the necessary time finding the right job so that it fits you, sooner or later, you will begin to feel uncomfortable and want to leave.

I hear this concern quite frequently with my clients: They want a job that fits them.

I hear this especially when they’re previous role didn’t fit. They are highly aware of how badly it felt, and they don’t want to feel that way again.

Here’s a specific example:

A recent client of mine wanted to move out of state. To make that happen, he took the first job that he was offered. He was so excited about the move that he didn’t pay attention to the details. He didn’t make sure that the job fit his aspiring career goals, nor did he look into the company’s culture or belief system.

It didn’t take long for him to discover that the new role in the new business really didn’t fit him and he was going to need to go right back out on his job hunt immediately. On top of that, the current position was so uncomfortable, he was feeling urgent about his job search – which wasn’t helping him focus so that he could make the right decision about his next position.

So what did he do? He made an incredibly brave decision to leave the position he didn’t like so that he could dedicate his time to finding a position that offered the right fit.

I’m not saying that you have to do this! I’m just saying that you need to prioritize your wants and needs when you conduct your search.

Hearing a client say, “I want to find a job that is the right fit,” is music to my ears!

When you take the time to think about how a job fits you, your whole job search changes. You start to focus on the skills you want to use in your next job, the values that company needs to have, what you need to feel supported, and what type of work that you find interesting, you won’t just be successful. You’ll be happy!

When you find shoes that fit, you will wear them for much longer. They’ll be your go-to pair and you’ll wear them so long that you’ll wear them out!

When you find the right job that fits you, it’s exactly the same. You will stay longer, you’ll be happier, and you will do your best work!