The overwhelming majority of people look for jobs; an enlightened few now realize they need to search for satisfying employment. Yes, there is a difference! As a recruiter or a hiring manager in past lives I have experienced an employer driven job market and a workforce driven market. Adjustments must be made depending on the times.

We all need work/jobs to meet our needs financially, professionally and personally. Since we have a limited on this earth; why not enjoy it! The way to do that is to secure satisfying employment. A job may fulfill the financial component, but may come up short for professional and/or personal fulfillment.

What is satisfying employment? Here’s the “secret” formula:

• You love (or at least like) what you do
• You like who you work for
• You like who you work with (there’s a difference)
• You’re paid what your worth

If you remove one item from this formula, you can not achieve satisfying employment. There is some latitude with “paid what you’re worth”, that is your decision, but be practical. Finding criteria for these components takes time and effort on the person’s part, but will be worth it. The key elements are within a self-assessment of your motivators and your definition of success. Only you have the answers to that in order to find an employer that matches your criteria.

How do you find these employers? Obvious techniques are; researching potential employers and networking with people who currently work there, have worked there or do business with them.

• Does the corporate culture match my value system according to my motivators and definition of success?
• Is good leadership present in order for this organization to not just survive in tenuous economic times, but thrive?
• Does their workforce contain people who have achieved satisfying employment and more importantly, how do they keep them?

An extra thought for employment satisfaction is the world of self-employment. Sometimes that may be the only way to achieve your goal. Financial preparation for self-employment may take up to two years in order to obtain the cushion to proceed. More importantly do you have the aptitude for self-employment? Without that, survival, let alone success is doubtful.

When do you “settle” for a job? The answer depends on your financial cushion and your tolerance for risk taking. Only you can determine that. “Settling” with be detrimental in the long run for you and your employer! A smart employer wants a positive, proficient, self-motivated and self-directed workforce. Look for employers who view their workforce as an asset, not a cost. Those leaders understand how their employees contribute to the organization’s overall success.

A smart person needs to match up with a smart employer and it takes work on both sides to achieve the mutual goal in this win-win scenario.