Finding the "Best Fit" Job

Effective job hunting begins with deciding what opportunities and situations you need in your career to confidently select the right job with the right company. Determining what matters to you in the work you plan to do will help you identify your best employment opportunities and increase the likelihood that you will be satisfied with the job you accept. Take time to reflect upon what you can contribute as well as what you want out of your career. Knowing who you are and what’s important to you will also enable you to market yourself effectively. Use the following questions to further clarify your priorities when deciding whether to accept or reject a job offer.

What do you have to offer an employer in the areas of knowledge, abilities, skills, and interests developed through your education and life/work experience (including volunteer, internship, part-time and summer work, and classroom projects, hobbies, and extracurricular activities)?
What do you want to accomplish through your work?
What are the characteristics of your preferred work environment?
What skills and personal attributes would you most like to utilize in the work that you do?
What is your desired starting salary? What kind of advancement and salary progression would you like to see?
What relationship do you want between your work life and your personal life?

By answering the above questions you will be able to evaluate your career objective in terms of the realities and opportunities available to you in the world of work.