Trying to sell a longer lasting light bulb to someone who does not have electricity doesn't make any sense. Neither does trying to sell your skills and services to an employer who does not need what you have to offer.

Before you invest time and energy applying for a job, find out how well the job "fits" you and how well you fit it.

For a job to fit you well, it must satisfy your most important needs, interests and values. For you to fit a job well, you must have the attitudes, skills and knowledge the job requires.

Lots of energy spent chasing a few "good fits" is generally far more productive than lots of energy spent "shooting in the dark" sending job applications everywhere.

To decide what a good fit for you might look like, think about the jobs and activities (on the job, at school, or in your spare time) you've enjoyed the most in the past.

What was it about those jobs and activities that made them more satisfying than others? Your answers will tell you a lot about what to look for in future jobs. In particular, decide:

• What sort of working environment you are looking for.
• Which skills you want to use and develop.
  
• Which values and interests you want to express through your work, and which ones could be expressed in other ways outside your work.
  
• What kind of growth you are looking for - the opportunity to become an "expert" in your field, the opportunity to advance to a more senior position, the opportunity to develop new skills, the chance to add some experience to increase your chances of getting into an academic program...?

To decide whether or not a particular job might be a good fit for you, you need to answer the following questions about that job.

What does the job involve?

• What are the duties and responsibilities?
  What are the working conditions (hours, environment,…?)
  What kinds of people would you be working with?
  Is training provided on the job?

What does the job require?

• What attitudes, skills, and knowledge are needed to succeed in this job?
  
• What training or work experience is required?
  
• What are the physical demands of the job?
  
• Are there special requirements such as licensing?
  
• Do you have to be bondable?
  
• What other qualifications is the employer looking for (ability to work as part of a team, business-like appearance,…)?
  

What does the company have to offer?

• What is the salary range for this position?
  
• What benefits are offered (medical, dental and pension plans, holidays,…)?
  
• What are your future prospects in this job (opportunities for advancement or transfer, future employment outlook,…)?
  
• Would this job give you the opportunity to use the skills you enjoy most and/or learn new skills?

Finding the answers to these questions takes some detective work.

Many job opportunities are found by word of mouth and do not come with written job descriptions. Even well-written job advertisements may not answer some of your questions. There are two basic ways to get more information about a job or company.

1. The best way is to talk to people in the company or people who do business with the company.
   
   First, talk to people you know - friends, relatives, and colleagues. Find out what they know about the job and the company, and who they know in the company who might be able to tell you more.
   
   Then contact those people. It is much easier to approach strangers and ask them for information if you can say that a mutual acquaintance suggested you talk to them.
   
   
2. Contact employers and personnel managers directly.
   
   Many employers welcome calls from people who are researching job opportunities, but some do not. A lot depends on the type of organization they work for and the type of job you are interested in.
   
   Talk to people in the industry and ask about the most appropriate way to approach people who have hiring authority.

Remember that at this stage you are looking for information and not actually applying for the job. However, you are making an important first impression - have specific questions ready and present them in a business-like manner.

When you have gathered enough information to decide that a particular job opportunity looks promising, check to see how your education, experience, personal qualifications and expectations measure up.

If what you have to offer fits the needs of the employer, you are ready to apply.

Copyright 1998 Province of Alberta Advanced Education and Career Development. Used with permission.

Related reading:

• iamnext job hunt tips: Resumes/CV, cover letter and interview tips
• Finding and knowing your passion
• On purpose: Are you deliberately designed for a purpose?
• Finding significance in your work