Experience, Opportunity, and Developing Your Career (HBR Work Smart Series)

4 Five Ways to Figure Out If a Job Is Right for You

by Roxanne Calder

Have you ever landed a job or internship that you were so excited for, only to feel like accepting the offer was a mistake? You’re not alone.

In a recent survey of 2,500 millennial and Gen Z applicants, 72% of respondents were surprised or regretted accepting a role because the position or company was very different from what they were led to believe it would be, and 41% said they would give the job just two to six months before leaving.¹

Here’s the thing: Just because a role seems like it will be the perfect fit doesn’t mean it will be. And just because a job seems like it might help you advance in your career doesn’t mean you should always take it.

Just as employers ...