Personality
Elements of an employee's character that influences their satisfaction and performance in a job. For example, if you are outgoing and creative you may not enjoy a job that involves working mostly alone on a systematic process with little variation. An individual who is introverted and who enjoys structure may enjoy this type of work.
Work Attitude
An individual's overall approach to work and the feeling they put into it. Different jobs benefit from different work attitudes. For example, a customer service representative who is friendly and helpful or a bank examiner who is skeptical and analytical.
Working Style
An individual's general approach to work. For example, a manager who prefers consensus decision-making as a team versus an manager who is comfortable making timely decisions without much consultation. Both of these working styles may be effective in different types of jobs.
Experience
Experience including work experience or life experience that may prepare an individual for the demands of a job. For example, public speaking experience in an academic setting that may prepare a candidate for speaking at conferences on behalf of an employer.
Aptitudes & Abilities
Abilities and potential that allow an individual to thrive in a job. For example, a job with little supervision or support where self-management skills become a real advantage.
Interests
Career and personal interests such as hobbies that may prepare an individual for a role and improve their satisfaction with the work. For example, a geologist role that involves much fieldwork may benefit from interests such as hiking and camping that prepare an individual for the rigors of outdoor work.
Working Conditions
Working conditions are the realities of a job including elements such as policies, terms of employment, environments, workplace culture and the overall demands of a job. This is a common reason for a job to be a poor fit for an individual. For example, a parent who wants to see their kids in the evening who won't be happy in a job that involves evening shift work.
Job-Fit vs Culture Fit
Job-fit is anything about a job that makes it a good or bad choice for an individual. Culture-fit is how well an individual is likely to do in a particular workplace culture. For example, an individual who may not thrive in a sales office that is competitive and fast-paced.The term culture-fit has a bit of a reputation for being misused to justify biases, particularly ageism whereby older candidates are told they aren't a good culture fit by an employer that mostly hires relatively young candidates. It is unethical to use either job-fit or culture-fit as an excuse for unfair hiring practices.
Next read: Job Depth
