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The Perfect Job Is a Myth

Will the grass be greener or should you keep looking?

Last month, we discussed employer expectations for candidates, encouraging hiring managers to recognize quality candidates with potential rather than waiting for the “perfect candidate.” This advice is particularly important for companies to take because we are still in a candidate’s market. It’s tough to hire, it takes time and preparation and luck.

But what about candidates? In a candidate’s market, they should be able to land the “perfect job,” right? Sorry to say it but, the perfect job – like the perfect candidate – is a myth. If you won’t consider anything but the perfect opportunity, you may be looking for a long time.

Not to say there aren’t great opportunities out there but it’s important to manage your expectations. As with any job, you have to take the good with the not-so-good.

Love / Hate, Like / Dislike

We recommend you make some lists to aid in your decision making. Think about your last few jobs – what did you Love about them? What did you Like? What did you Dislike and what did you Hate? Really interrogate yourself about these lists – they are only as useful to you as you are honest with yourself.

Things in your Love and Hate lists are aspects of a job that can make your work fulfilling or miserable. You feel strongly about both of these elements, and you should be firm in looking for at least one Love and no Hates in any opportunity. Your Loves are strong motivators, boosting your mood and productivity. Your Hates are particularly de-motivating and stressful, draining your energy and increasing your frustrations. Pay special attention to these factors!

Things from your Like and Dislike lists are more flexible, these are nice to have or not have. You could handle it if you didn’t have as many of your Likes as you wanted. Similarly, you could ignore a few Dislikes, especially if they were offset by a few more Loves or Likes. Plenty of Likes in an opportunity might push you to accept the offer. A few too many Dislikes might tip you into refusing it.

The process of making these lists will help you think about what you really value in your workplace and give you a handy guide for future decisions.

Next Steps

Keep your lists in mind as you apply for jobs but don’t be too rigid at this stage. Job posts vary in quality and detail so if you see at least one thing you Like or Love, consider applying. You can learn a lot more from a 15-minute conversation with an employer.

Unless there is something disqualifying in the screening call, we recommend you take a first interview, if offered. This is when your lists really come into play. Before the interview, craft questions to find out if the job has any of your Loves, Hates, etc. Get your four lists on a single page in your notes and check off items as they come up during the interview. You’re basically playing Interview Bingo (just don’t bring an actual Bingo card).

If any of your Hates or Dislikes come up, ask for more information to be certain. Similarly, if there are any Loves or Likes in the interview, engage with them! Let the interviewer see your enthusiasm and your expertise on these aspects of the job. Not only will you learn useful information, but you will likely leave a stronger impression on the hiring manager.

After the interview, assess your checklist. If there are any Hates or too many Dislikes, be careful – this may not be the job for you. If you’re unsure, you can always have another interview to learn more. If there is at least one Love and plenty of Likes, that’s a great sign! Those good things would likely outweigh any of the Dislikes, if there aren’t too many. This isn’t an exact science – only you can decide if there are too many downsides for you to tolerate.

Continue assessing in this way until you have at least one offer. If an offer has too many Dislikes, you may need turn it down or counteroffer. But if an offer has several things that you Love or Like and nothing you Hate, you should strongly consider accepting. No job will ever be perfect, but you can find jobs that will suit you very well.