Fit or Experience - What's The Best Measure?

This evening I was rereading the article linked in my title, and realized it carried some very important advice for the Job Seeker.  If you really want the job, be sure you not only have the right skills and experience, but that you are a "fit" for the organization.

Traditionally in advising a job search candidate, we talk about identifying your "qualifications" for the job, and ignore or gloss over the fitness issue.  Being FIT for an organization means you are of the right temperament, values, and interests to effectively, and successfully, merge with the culture of the organization.  To avoid this mistake I talk to my clients about their "SAVI"-that's Skills, Abilities, Values and Interests."

Too many interviewers and job seekers alike focus solely on Skills and Abilities.  This means they pay attention to whether the candidate has the education, training, and work experience with the proper skill set, and knowledge base necessary to perform effectively the duties of a specific job opening.  In doing this, they neglect to look at the candidate and ask them self ..." Can s/he get along with Betty and John in Payroll, or Howard Marketing?"  "Will the candidate's personality mesh well with others in the hiring department?"

As far too many hiring managers have learned over the years, a square peg trying to fit into a round hole can severely disrupt an otherwise high performance team.  Trying to slot a candidate who works well and prefers working in a cross functional cooperative environment into a mid-twentieth century style organization is a recipe for failure-at least for the individual, and quite possibly the organization if they are place high enough into the organization.

So, what is my advice to job seekers?  Know your SAVI   Perform a thorough self-assessment of not only our Skills, Abilities, Knowledge, and Experiences, but also evaluate your personal Values, and Interests.  Knowing the complete picture will help you understand the important questions you need to be asking in the interview to confirm your FIT, and to sell your FIT to a hiring manager. Knowing your SAVI will also enable you to better assess a company's SAVI.  That will tell you whether an employer organization FITs you. If you know a company is not the right FIT for you, it can help you avoid what might otherwise appear to be a "great" job offer.

Those interested in how to go about a SAVI Self Assessment, can contact me and I will be happy to guide you through the process.