October 2007 Issue
Find Work That Fits
Before you invest time and energy applying for a work opportunity, find out how well the work fits you and how well you fit it.
For work to fit you well, it must satisfy your most important needs, interests and values. For you to fit a work opportunity well, you must have the attitudes, skills and knowledge the work requires.
To decide what a good fit for you might look like, think about the activities, paid and unpaid, you’ve enjoyed in the past. Your answers can tell you a lot about what to look for in the future. In particular, think about
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the type of working environment you want
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the skills you want to use or develop
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the values and interests you want to express through your work
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the types of personal growth opportunities you want (e.g. the opportunity to become an “expert” in your field, to advance to a more senior position, or to develop certain types of skills).
To decide whether or not a particular work opportunity might be a good fit for you, you have to be able to answer the following questions
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What does the work involve?
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How much is the employer expecting to pay?
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What benefits are offered?
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What would your future prospects be (e.g. are there opportunities for advancement)?
Finding the answers to these questions takes some detective work.
Most work opportunities are found by word of mouth. Even when there is a well-written job description available it may not answer all of your questions.
There are two basic ways to get more information about a work opportunity
1. Talk to people who already work for the employer or people who do business with the employer. First, talk to people you know — your friends, relatives and colleagues. Find out what they know about the work opportunity and the employer and who they know who might be able to tell you more. Then contact those people.
2. Contact employers and personnel managers directly. Many employers welcome calls from people who are researching work opportunities, but some do not. It depends on the type of organization and the type of work opportunity. Talk to people in the industry and ask about the most appropriate way to approach people who have hiring authority.
At this stage, you are looking for information and not actually applying for work. However, you are making an important first impression, so have specific questions ready and present them in a businesslike manner.
When a work opportunity looks promising, check to see how your education, experience, personal qualifications and expectations measure up to the work requirements.
For more tips on career, learning and employment topics, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service website at www.alis.gov.ab.ca and click on the ALIS Tip Sheets. The ALIS site is provided through a partnership of Alberta Human Resources and Employment, Alberta Education and Alberta Advanced Education.