The 3 dimensions of a job fit: skills, interest and values

This article is based entirely on the work of dr Beverly Kaye, https://bevkaye.com/ , including but not limited to this article and then given my personal flavor. The perspective of dr Kaye has significantly influenced my thinking about career choices I make. I find it simple yet powerful and thus am going to share so that the voice of dr Kaye is heard even wider.

When you ask yourself a question of what is your ideal job you are really asking yourself what job resonates with who you are. There are three aspects to consider: a skill fit, an interest fit, and a value fit. They are all critical - the more those 3 aspects resonate between you and your work, the more you are going to shine and be in a position to fulfill your potential, the more the job will be meaningful to you, the more it will contribute to your fulfillment in life.

Naturally you are seeking to use your best skills (skills aspect) at work, after all you invested years in developing and maintaining those. And then it is about interest, about how you are applying your best skills (interest aspect): is what you do a driver of action for you? Do you live your work? Is it what you would be doing if you were not paid for it? Is this something you wake up in the morning for? Did you internalize the challenge, turned it into your passion and now running on free fuel? And finally you are seeking to use the skills in a meaningful way (values aspect) - in the way that will resonate with your values. Otherwise, even with the best skills you can be just dissipating your energy. To check your value fit ask yourself the following questions: am I enrolled with the mission of the organization, do I resonate with the approach the organization takes, is my identity reflected in this organization? Do I want to change and adapt to the organization approach?

By the way, these 3 aspects do not go in any specific order: you do not need to have skills to start with - as long as you have interest and / or values, skills can be developed. It is actually a very human way of personal development that requires self-awareness and a conscious effort to develop based on the open mindset of Yes, I can learn! Similarly, if you love what you do, but at some point will realize you are just silly exploiting your best skills, congratulations! - based on this self-awareness you will have a chance to re-think and to re-define the purpose of your work.

Stay job matched for your enriched life!