What makes people happy and motivated at work is certainly personal for each individual, but the overarching message from this article outlines how important it is to feel challenged in a job, and be striving towards achievable goals, whilst stretching your skills, and continuously learning. These factors give a sense of purpose, and provide a platform to master new skills as well as interact with others, and make an impact.
Having friends at work is a significant predictor of long-term job happiness, Michelle Gielan, who founded the Institute for Applied Positive Research and author of Broadcasting Happiness, writes. And Michelle emphasises quality over quantity is worth bearing in mind.
Feeling that your work is meaningful also plays a big part in job happiness. If you believe in your own work, as well as what your organisation stands for, work is a much brighter place, and is sure to be a more fulfilling experience.
All of these factors sum up the importance of cultural and organisational fit. If you believe in the essence of the organisation and what they are aiming to achieve, and you are challenged in your role, as well as able to get on positively with your colleagues, then it's likely that you are a healthy fit for the organisation and its culture. Of course, not all of these are determinable at interview, but it's food for thought when making applications and experiencing interviews. Many companies have moved over to elements of the application process being over the phone. There will nearly always be a face to face element, at the company offices. But ask questions over the phone about the company, and do your research. Follow them on LinkedIn, read their blogs and online content, research their employees - and not just the top ones. Try to find out about a cross section, so you get an idea for who works there and whether they enjoy it. Asking a recruiter or an interviewer if they like their job and enjoy working at the organisation might not always be an appropriate question, but it's worth asking yourself that question internally.
Why? Well, because striving towards a specific goal gives structure and meaning to our day-to-day work. “It creates obligations, deadlines and timetables, as well as opportunities for mastering new skills and interacting with others,” writes Lyubomirsky. “It helps us attain a sense of purpose, feelings of efficacy over our progress and mastery over our time. All these things make people happy.”
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