This is the final installment of a series of postings on finding the right fit when interviewing for a job. The first posting talked about the role of values in creating a good fit. The second posting explored how talent plays into the right job.

This posting is about passion. A lot has been written about how your best work is one that fulfills a passion. I’ve seen in my own life how true this is.

Recently, I ran into someone I worked with as an engineer in the early 90’s. I had not kept in contact with anyone from this period of my life, so I was curious as to what happened to many of my colleagues. The funny thing about the telecom industry in Denver is that many of the same players get recycled from one company to the next. More than a decade and several companies later, familiar names pop up in the same office.  So it was with my friends from U S WEST.

As I talked with my friend about the technical world that he was still a part of, I realized how far my passions had taken me in another direction. I can’t imagine going back to an engineering job–even though I was good at it and I liked the people. Most of my talents were fully engaged in scoping out technical requirements for software development–crossing tasks off my list every day, focusing in on the important aspects of a new telephone feature, learning and gathering data as I went from one project to the next, and serving as project manager more than once. And yet, this work came up short for me.  All because of passion.

Some of my coaching clients sing the same tune–competent at their work, but without the spark that makes each day meaningful and satisfying. Sometimes it is a misalignment of values. For example, a divorce attorney who values harmony.  Often it is a matter of work that is strangely distant from our hearts.

If you’re not sure of what your passion is, ask yourself these questions:

• What condition in the world touches you deeply, making you sad or angry at the thought of no possibillity for change?  For me, I care deeply about bringing the human spirit into the workplace–creating teams that click, nurturing employees to thrive, and developing authentic leaders.  If I thought there was no hope for change, I would be demoralized, depressed, and yes, angry. This passion comes from having lived in workplaces that I knew could feel better, where performance could improve.

• What do you spend time learning more about, independent of the level of knowledge you already possess in that area?  Although I spent 15 years in the telecom industry, I never got into the technology. Voice Over IP, SIP protocol, ISDN (I’m really dating myself now), OSI layers, Signaling System Number 7. None of it interested me outside of the specifics I needed to get the job done. I tried subscribing to industry magazines and they piled up on my desk, unread.  Whenever I moved offices, which seemed to be about every 18 months, it was always a relief to throw all of it into the trash. By comparison, I still hunger to know what makes teams tick, what’s inside of me that I can bring to coaching, and how organizations adapt to continuous change.

• What work feels meaningful and brings you joy, independent of the pay? When I’m having a bad day, I know that if I have coaching calls, I’ll feel better afterwards. I always do. After I work with a team, often I am on the receiving end of heartfelt thank yous. My first reaction is to be grateful–to see it as a privilege to do the work and to have the trust needed to do it successfully. My next reaction is of feeling well-used, that my work has purpose to it.

At a job interview, how will you know your passions are a fit for the job? Beyond the intellectual steps of matching the job content and the mission statement of the company with the answers to the questions above, first and foremost, notice how you feel in the interview. Do you pinch yourself that you are really interviewing with this company, for this job?  Can you already imagine yourself working there? Does the work of the company feel important to you? Feelings are an indicator as to whether your passions can be satisfied.

To summarize, finding the right fit starts with your own self-awareness–of your values, talents, and passions. Without that awareness, it’s a bit of a crapshoot as to whether you’ll enjoy a job long-term.  The newness wears off, as does the salary increase or perks, and the reality of the work sets in. What you are left with is what you have to sustain your spirit over the long haul.  Using your talents, honoring your values, and fulfilling your passions are more than enough to sustain you for the journey.