Are you starting a new job?

My two sisters just started new jobs so that’s a good indicator there’s a lot of activity in the market. So I’m finding myself giving advice on how to weigh the best opportunity and once they start, how to align with new bosses and peers.

Checkout Business Week’s Podcast Series and tune in for Jack and Suzy Welch’s topic titled, Which Job is the Right Job. They suggest five questions you need to ask yourself as you weigh competiing opportunities:

1. Will the new job be filled with co-workers who share my sensibilities, or will I have to zone out or fake it to get along?
2. Will the new job stretch my mind and build my skills, and otherwise take me out of my comfort zone, or am I entering at the top of my game?
3. Will the new job open or close doors for me should I ever leave?
4. Will the new job turn my crank, touch my soul, and give me meaning?
5. Who am I making happy by taking this job, and am I OK with that bargain?

I think it’s important when you first start working with someone to sit down and talk about your different work styles. It’s important to differentiate between personalities and workstyles. We often confuse the two and spend too much time being judgmental about their personalities. What you are workstyle orientations?

Detailed Oriented - Likes to have all data and resources researched and analyzed; has difficulty making decisions without this in place.
Interpersonal Oriented - Likes to motivate people and get them engaged; lacks follow through with commitments.
Team Oriented - Likes to work with others and follow their lead; has difficulty with independent work.
Vision Oriented - Likes to take charge and set the vision for the account; doesn’t have a need to work with others and usually doesn’t unless delegating to them.
Technically Oriented - Loves the technology and thinks that’s what the customer is buying; has difficult time with business people that don’t understand the technology and language.