Don’t feel right in your job? Don’t blame your career, blame the ‘fit’

Employers have discovered  that when an employee's personality meshes well with the office culture, it's a better experience for everyone, be they managers, colleagues, or the employee themselves, say experts. (Getty Images/Gerard Launet)

How well do you “fit” with your career and your job?

You might never have given much thought to that question. However, sources on the subject generally agree that the more closely your personality aligns with your career choice and work persona, the happier you will be in your career. (One study even goes as far as to say that the closer the match, the more likely you are to earn more.)

This notion of finding the right fit has changed considerably over the years, points out Eileen Chadnick, principal of Big Cheese Coaching. “Once upon a time companies used to hire for skill. End of story. Today, fit is becoming increasingly important and not just for the employer but for the job seeker and careerist,” she says. “The notion of fit has expanded far beyond skill. It encompasses things like a person’s character, personality traits and values.”

It’s important, Chadnick adds, because work is no longer a place where you simply exchange your skills and time for a paycheque: it’s become a meaning-seeking destination:

“We spend a lot of time at work and people are looking for some sense of purpose and alignment with who they are,” she says. “You never used to hear about authenticity at work. But now, smart employers have figured out that when a person fits with the culture, it will be a better experience for everyone. Win-win all around.”

Stephen Shedletzky, head of brand experience and igniter at Simon Sinek, Inc., has a similar take. For him, finding the right alignment between who you are and what you do professionally is a question of work-life balance. “People think work-life balance is about how much time you spend at the office or how much hot yoga you do,” he says. “But it’s not about hours or hobbies. It’s about being in environments where you love who you are at work and you love who you are at home.”

MISPLACING THE BLAME 

According to Chadnick, many people who come to her for coaching are frustrated at work, causing them to question their career choices. 

“They might wonder, ‘Do I really want to be an accountant?’” she says. “But that might be misguided doubt. Instead of attributing their frustration to their entire career choice, they may want to reflect on their inner world—their personality, their preferences, their core values, and their strengths, both in terms of skills and character. Because that information can then become a compass for navigating their work lives for everything from interviewing to fitting in.”

By way of example, Chadnick describes, an accountant who has become an expert in tax and has found a position using that expertise—but in a behind-the-scenes, planning role. 

“That choice might not be quite right, because this person might also have a strong affinity for connecting with others,” she says. “If their job doesn’t give them enough time with clients, they won’t necessarily feel fulfilled. They need to find a position that includes some client management and client relations experience in addition to tax.”

THE VALUE OF VALUES

A major part of fit has to do with values. “Increasingly, companies are naming their values. And they are taking them into account when hiring,” says Chadnick. “They might include everything from collegiality to ethics, fairness, respect or innovation.” 

Despite this new organizational emphasis, Chadnick says 90 per cent of her coaching clients have never been asked to name their core values and strengths. “Unless you have gone through leadership development or coaching, you may never have encountered such an exercise,” she says.

That’s why awareness is key, she adds. “You should know that in the interview process, organizations might ask you all kinds of questions about your values and what you might do in certain situations. Because if you place value on fairness and equity, for example, it’s going to show up at work, and it’s going to show up in your personal life. Conversely, if you are lacking in certain values, this may show up as well.”

“That can be extremely tough, but if you do it right, the rewards can last a lifetime,” he says.

CAREER ADVICE

Looking for a change? Find out why you feel stagnant on the job and what you need to consider before making a career transition.