Lindsay Taylor, Co-Founder & Director at Your Excellency highlights the key to career happiness by explaining why “fit” matters. The pioneering psychologist Abraham Maslow studied “exemplary” people (think: Einstein) and developed his famous hierarchy of needs theory…
At the base are our most fundamental needs: physiological needs and safety. Once these are met we can move to satisfy belonging, esteem, and, finally, self-actualisation.
What stands out in the theory of key to career happiness?
Rather than work being just about salary or title, the need to “belong” is central. If you don’t feel part of a team, part of something meaningful, you’ll struggle to move up that pyramid, to self-esteem and personal fulfilment.
So when you sense you don’t fit in, it’s not just a matter of discomfort – it’s a signal you may be stuck in that “belonging” layer of Maslow’s pyramid. That means you may not be fulfilling your true potential.
How this applies when you’re job-hunting
Here’s the thing: a job interview isn’t just them interviewing you. It’s you also interviewing them. You’re assessing whether you’ll belong and thrive within the organisation.
Your success will be far greater if the organisation’s vision, mission and ethos align with your ideals and values.
To find you key to career happiness, ask yourself:
- What matters to me at work?
- What matters to me in my world beyond work?
- How important is teamwork, or autonomy, or community-impact?
- What sort of culture feels right for me?
If you value collaboration and connection, you’ll want to avoid roles where you’ll be isolated. If giving back is important, make sure the organisation has that built into its DNA.
Making your values visible and finding the right match
1. Clarify your own ideals. Take time to define what you stand for: integrity, innovation, service, learning, balance – whatever resonates with you. Write them down.
2. Learn about the organisation. When you’re preparing for interviews, go beyond the job description. Research the company’s website, values, culture, team structure, leadership style. Ask during the interview: “How does this organisation reflect its stated values in practice?”
3. Match the role to your values. If you know you thrive when helping others – seek roles that emphasise mentoring, community service, or team development. If you’re driven by results and autonomy, find out how you’ll be evaluated, how much independence you’ll have.
4. Recognise when the “fit” isn’t there. Sometimes you’ll get an offer and realise the culture or ethos doesn’t fully align. That can be a red flag. Accepting a role where you don’t belong can impact your self-esteem and your ability to flourish.
Why this matters for your long-term success
When you join an organisation that fits you:
- You feel you belong, reducing stress and increasing engagement.
- You can fulfil your self-esteem needs, feeling valued, respected, confident.
- You move toward self-actualisation: doing work that resonates with your purpose.
If you don’t feel you belong, you may indeed find yourself stuck. We all want more than to just perform at work—we want to belong, to contribute, to grow.
Final thoughts
So before you accept your next role, remember: your new employer isn’t just about job titles and salaries. It’s about People, Purpose, Place and whether you will feel you fit.
By aligning your ideals with theirs, you’re not just stepping into a job, you’re stepping into a place where you can truly belong, flourish and bring your best self.
Here’s to finding the right fit and being the right person, in the right place.
For more career advice and news for executive support professionals, check our PA Life’s Career News on our Jobs page.
