Consider your strengths, needs, and expectations

Determining whether a job is the right fit can be tricky, but it's essential if you want to increase your chances of finding job satisfaction. In this article, we're looking at questions to ask yourself during the job search, so you understand how to know what job is right for you in terms of skill set, career goals, and personality. We also suggest some questions for your interviewer, to help you make the right decision.

1. What am I qualified to do?

The most common error job seekers make is applying for a role that they're under- or overqualified for. It would be more beneficial to review your qualifications with a realistic eye, in order to find the right jobs for you.

To determine your key strengths, make a list of your top soft skills, such as communication, organisation, and teamwork, with examples of how you demonstrated these abilities. Then identify your hard skills – these are job-specific skills and core industry competencies. Finally, compare your skills list with the requirements listed in any job description to see if you line up. Ideally, you should match 80% of the job and person specifications to consider yourself suitable.

If a particular job seems like a match, here are some questions you might like to ask the potential employer or interviewer about the role and your skill set to make sure you're a fit:

  • What challenges is the company facing that this role addresses?

  • What are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role?

  • Do you have any reservations about my qualifications or experience for this position?

  • How do I compare with the other candidates you've interviewed for this job?

2. What job do I really want?

It's all very well working out what you're qualified to do, but you must also consider what you want to do with your career.

For many job seekers, their skills and qualifications will match up with the role and career path they want. For example, if you studied marketing at university, have worked as a Marketing Assistant for the last year, and are now looking for a job as a Marketing Executive, your experience and skill set will easily leverage you into this new role.

However, career priorities change. According to Personnel Today, half of employees (49%) want to change careers but aren't sure of the route they want to take. Therefore, if you trained for a career in marketing, for example, but no longer have an interest in the industry, spend some time thinking about what it is that you want to do instead. Review your qualifications and see which are transferable and will help you to land a job in a new industry, and pinpoint what skills you need to buff up to make a career change possible.

Yet, sometimes the position might help you move towards that career change, so here are some questions you could ask hiring managers to see how the business handles career progression and growth:

  • What opportunities do you offer for training?

  • How do you measure performance?

  • What are the core KPIs for this role?

  • What can I expect from you regarding professional development and support?

  • How will I interact with other departments?

3. What are my salary and benefits requirements?

A 2023 LinkedIn poll by recruitment firm DNA Recruit revealed that salary and additional benefits remain to be key priorities for job seekers in the UK. Therefore, when you consider how to know what job is right for you, review the proposed compensation package and ensure you're satisfied with it.

When reviewing your salary requirements, be realistic. Weigh up the figure you have in mind against the industry standards for someone with your level of experience and qualifications. Also, check out the averages in your location, as salaries tend to fluctuate depending on the area's cost of living. Consider your personal expenses too, to work out the minimum amount you'd need to get by.

Bear in mind that large companies often have more flexibility with the salaries they offer, due to their sizable ROI, whereas smaller businesses may not be so adaptable. Therefore, consider the work perks that are on offer too, such as gym memberships, private healthcare, and retail discounts, as these benefits may compensate for the lower salary.

Expert tip: When you're figuring out how to know if a job offer is right for you, take into account what you need to earn, what other benefits are on offer, and whether the offer is fair based on your research. 

Here are some questions that you might like to ask your interviewer, to gain a better insight into the salary and benefits on offer:

  • What have you budgeted for this role?

  • What is the salary bracket for this position?

  • What did you last do for a team building event?

  • How many sick and holiday days are provided and when do benefits start to accrue?

  • What benefits are focused on work-life balance?

4. What does my ideal company culture and working environment look like?

A job that's a good fit goes beyond the day-to-day duties and your salary. It's also about whether you and the business are compatible on a cultural level. 

To determine if you align with the workplace culture and values, consider whether you'd prefer to work in a formal, corporate organisation, or a relaxed startup, for example. Debate what executive leadership and management style would bring out your best work and what type of working environment you'd be most productive in.

Have these criteria in mind when reviewing job adverts, as – even though you may ace the job interview because you're qualified – you may find yourself ditching the gig after a few weeks due to poor cultural fit.

You may struggle to find information on company culture from research alone, so it's wise to ask about it during your interview. Here are a few questions to use:

  • What do you like most about working here?

  • How would you describe the working environment here?

  • How does employee feedback get incorporated into day-to-day operations?

  • What employee achievements does the company recognise and reward?

  • What role do company values play in hiring and performance reviews?

5. What red flags am I seeing?

Consider what red flags you might notice during the application and interview process, such as: 

  • There are no opportunities to progress

  • The role doesn't play to your strengths

  • The company has different values to you

  • Colleagues don't seem engaged when you visit the office

  • You won't be able to be yourself

  • You're just not getting excited by it 

Find the right job for you – faster

By now, you should have a good idea of how to decide if a job is right for you. These points don't make an exhaustive list, but they're the most prominent features to consider when determining how to know what job is right for you. Ultimately, you'll feel it in your gut while job hunting. Once you've decided you should apply for a role, simply tailor your CV to the vacancy, focusing on your relevant strengths and achievements, to show the potential employer what a great fit you'd be.

A strong CV will help you land a job offer that's right for you. Submit yours for a free CV review to find out where you stand.

This article was originally written by Laura Slingo and has been updated by Jen David.

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