Using emotional intelligence when considering taking up a job

Under pressure to get a job because everyone else around him is working, X looks around, notices an opportunity, and immediately jumps into it. Without much consideration, he takes up the job and regrets it six months down the line. Why? Because he now feels that he isn’t ‘fit’ for the job—it’s taking him nowhere, he doesn’t feel like there’s much meaning in what he’s asked to do, and he doesn’t quite understand how he had agreed to it in the first place. No answers for guessing, but X chose the job out of desperation. The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) got the better of him. However, this took him down the path of regret. There are a lot of times when different pressures get to us and make us do things without much deliberation. We feel like it’s the best opportunity we have at that moment. Sometimes, that might be true. But, most of the time, we could do better with a slightly more deliberate attempt at finding something that fits who we are and what we want. After all, a job offer is a two-way street. Perhaps considering the following variables and making certain trade-offs might help us make slightly deliberate choices about the jobs we agree to take up.

Things to consider about the organization: What is the organization like and how is its reputation in the industry and in general? Then, what culture does the organization have? What makes this organization unique and do you fit into that uniqueness? Based on the present scenario, would you be willing to mention that you were associated with this organization in your CV five years down the line?

You must also think about the industry you are getting into. Is it the type of industry you want to learn more about? Does getting into this particular organization/industry offer a path for growth? And even if that isn’t your primary industry of choice, can you learn relevant transferable skills? And what about the people? What can you learn about the people who have held this position before? How would the organization/industry describe a ‘successful’ person? If you were to draw a character sketch of a typical employee, what would it look like? Why do people in the organization usually leave? Who do you report to and do they look like the type who would be concerned about your growth? The pay also requires careful consideration. What is the industry average? If the pay is more than you’d hoped for but the work is not something that excites you. Are you okay with that? If the pay is less, what trade-offs are you willing to make? Then, think about your purpose. What is so meaningful about the work you will be asked to perform? Is it the type of work you want to excel at and what does a typical day at the office look like? It can be difficult to find a way to have answers to these questions on our own. We can ask people who work in the company for their feedback or even ask a couple of these questions during our interviews. We can’t simply have it all so certain trade-offs might be inevitable. We might have to sacrifice our current salary for a chance to work with a boss who has a reputation for being an excellent mentor. The idea is to consider the variables that will directly affect our happiness at work as the weeks or months go by. Making an informed choice helps us stay clear of FOMO and instead live with a sense of Joy of Missing Out (JOMO). The author is co-founder of My Emotions Matter, an education initiative that helps individuals and teams learn the mindset and skills of Emotional Intelligence. You can learn more at myemotionsmatter.com