Birkman Fit Series: The Candidate’s Perspective

When I’m coaching someone who has completed their Birkman review, here’s one of the first conversations we have.

Before you apply—or before you accept an offer—you already have two advantages many candidates overlook: yourself…and the job description.

Don’t just read the job description.

Listen to what it’s telling you.

Someone took the time to describe what success looks like in this role. As you read, ask yourself:

• Do I naturally enjoy these kinds of activities?

• Have I demonstrated these strengths before?

• Will this work allow me to use the talents that energize me?

One of the advantages of understanding your Birkman profile is that you can evaluate a job opportunity with a different set of eyes.

Most candidates immediately focus on compensation, benefits and title. Those are certainly important, but they’re only part of the equation.

The better question is:

“Will this role allow me to do work that naturally energizes me?”

As you read the job description and sit through the interview, begin listening for clues.

Does the position allow you to spend time using your strongest interests?

Will you have opportunities to solve problems, build relationships, create new ideas, analyze data, lead others—or whatever naturally motivates you?

Just as important…

Does the role require you to spend a significant portion of every day doing work that falls within your lowest interests?

None of us enjoys every aspect of our jobs. That’s reality. But when most of your day is spent doing work that naturally drains your motivation, it’s difficult to perform at your very best over the long term.

As you listen, don’t just ask yourself, “Can I do this job?”

Also ask, “Would I enjoy doing this job well?”

Those are two very different questions.

If possible, meet the person who will actually supervise you.

Ask about their leadership style.

How do they communicate expectations?

How do they provide feedback?

What does success look like six months after someone joins the team?

Don’t hesitate to ask about the position itself.

Is this a newly created role?

Or are you replacing someone?

If you’re replacing someone, it’s perfectly appropriate to ask:

“What qualities would make someone especially successful in this role?”

Notice that’s different from asking why the last person left.

You’re inviting the interviewer to describe the behaviors, work style and personal qualities that fit the position. Listen carefully. Their answer often provides valuable insight into whether your own strengths naturally align with what they’re seeking—and whether those expectations fit the way you naturally do your best work.

One of the greatest benefits of understanding your unique Birkman fingerprint is that you can make career decisions with greater intention.

You begin recognizing environments where you’ll naturally thrive—and those where you’ll have to work much harder simply to stay energized.

Throughout the process, keep asking yourself a few honest questions:

• What will this job provide me besides a paycheck?

• At the end of most workdays, will I feel energized or depleted?

• Does this role allow me to contribute in ways I naturally enjoy?

• Will I have enough autonomy—or enough collaboration—to do my best work?

• Can I picture myself still enjoying this work three years from now?

I’d enjoy hearing from you.

Looking back on your career, what was one clue about a job that you noticed too late—or one clue you’re glad you paid attention to?

After nearly 40 years of helping professionals and organizations discover the right fit, I’ve learned that the best career decisions are rarely made by accident. They happen when people understand themselves well enough to recognize the environments where they can contribute, continue to grow, and genuinely enjoy the work they do.

That’s the kind of fit worth looking for.