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3. Applying for the right role

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Make your passion & skills 2x2 matrix

We thrive when we’re doing work that we both love and are great at.

This means that as we’re applying for our next roles, we should optimize for ones that allow us to leverage our best skills and passions - but what are those?
To help you figure this out, create your own 2x2 passion and skills matrix - download the template
here
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How to fill out your matrix
Quadrant #
Skill proficiency level
Passion level
What this means for your job hunt
1
1
Beginner: you’re not good at these activities when you’ve tried.
Loathe: you hate doing this kind of work.
Avoid roles that require a lot of these skills.
2
2
Advanced: you’re phenomenal at doing these activities and highly skilled.
Loathe: you hate doing this kind of work - even though you’re great at it.
If you need to, lean on these skills to get you that next role, but try not to overindex on these in your search because if you really don’t enjoy it, you’re going to be miserable in your next role.
3
3
Advanced: you’re phenomenal at doing these activities and highly skilled.
Love: you are excited about this work - especially because you’re great at it.
TADA: this is your sweet spot. Look for roles that require these skills in abundance.
4
4
Beginner: you’re not good at these activities when you’ve tried.
Love: even though you’re not great at this, you find it fascinating and want to get better at it.
These are skills you should invest in as you’re applying to roles - and you should try to find roles that have a couple of these skills so you can push yourself out of your comfort zone.
There are no rows in this table
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A parting note

You might be tempted to ask, “but what if I don’t have anything I’m great at?”
I’m glad you brought that up. I don’t believe you is my answer. We all have superpowers. Here’s a few tips for reminding yourself what yours are:
Reflect on your proudest moments at work
What made them so remarkable in your mind? What traits or skills do you have that enabled those moments? Those are your strengths.
Consider including areas of skill and passion beyond your work environment
Do you love being outdoors? Do you hate working with children? Are you always the friend to make the group dinner reservation? Opening up this exercise to other areas of your life may help you think about your skills in a new way.
Ask yourself what you’d write if you were your own friend
We often find it easier to praise our friends than ourselves - so try this on yourself!
Ask your support squad to brainstorm with you
If your squad includes former colleagues - even better!




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