How to Tell When a Job or Client Is a Bad Fit

How to Tell When a Job or Client Is a Bad FitHow to Tell When a Job or Client Is a Bad FitYoure looking for work or eager to land new freelance clients. When youre in search mode like this, it may be tempting to adopt the philosophy that beggars cant be choosers. However, even when landing a new position or gig is your primary goal, certain opportunities are best rejected.The fact is that your fit with a position or partie should be an important consideration as you evaluate potential professional roles and relationships. What exactly is fit, and why is it so important in job selection? The concept of fit simply means how close the match is between your skill set and preferences, and what the employer or client wants and needs.When pondering fit to determine whether or not you should join a company or accept a new client, you should also take into account the culture and expectations of the organization, as well as the work style and personality of any boss, team, or client you could end up working with.Determining fit is more art than science, but there are still some key indicators that can suggest its a smart move to look elsewhere.To assist you in this effort, below are some red flags to watch for that can alert job seekers to the possibility that a job opportunity or prospective client may be a bad fitYour styles are at odds.As much as you may think of yourself a team player who gets along with everyone, most people connect better with some types of companies, teams, and individuals than others. By taking the time to notice this upfront rather than turning a blind eye to the reality, you can save yourself aggravation down the road.A style disconnect might be about how you prefer to get your work done- for example, you want an organization or boss to give you some flexibility in where and when you work, yet you discover during the vorstellungsgesprch process that your would-be supervisors style reflects a butts in seats mentality.You might also notice an ir reconcilable style difference during your interview when you walk through the company offices and see that everyone is wearing headphones at their desk and not interacting, when you like to be more collegial and chatty while you work. Whatever the distinction is that puts you off, you should listen to your inner alarm bells rather than signing up for a disastrous fit.You sense a communication disconnect.Part of work style involves communication. If youre a freelancer who works remotely with clients, how someone communicates with you via phone or email might be the only indicator you have of fit. Pay attention during these initial discussions- does the conversation flow easily? Do you feel like youre both on the same page? Do you like the way that the person talks to you? Or do you feel nervous and on edge, more like youre being grilled than considered for a potential partnership? Trust your gut on this one. If youre speaking with someone who could end up as your supervisor, or as a customer who youll work closely with to reach collective goals, then you want to make sure that youre going to be able to collaborate smoothly and intuitively.You feel like a square peg in a round hole.Sometimes its hard to pinpoint whether the fit feels wrong based on style or communication. In these cases, it could be the company culture thats to blame for a poor fit. Maybe thinking on your feet isnt your strong suit, yet your interviewer seems determined to ask you questions that catch you off guard rather than playing to your strengths. Or perhaps the issue is that after talking to the hiring committee, you recognize that everyone youve spoken with seems to have different goals and values than you. If something just seems off- whether during the search process or even how an organization represents itself in a job ad- look before you leap.By learning to recognize what jobs or clients arent right for you, youll be better prepared and able to find situations that are a great fit f or your work style, skill set, and preferences.