I’ve worked at Fast Company for more than a decade. My colleague Lydia Dishman, one of the other authors of Work Smarter, has been here for more than 15 years. In a career landscape where many switch jobs every few years, clearly we’ve found something about our jobs that has made us stay.
For many of us, finding a “good job” can be a lifelong pursuit. At its most basic level, a good job should provide economic security, economic mobility, and equity, respect, and voice. But dig a little deeper and what those things mean for individuals can be different depending on your circumstances and personality.
Flexibility
Earlier in my career, I spent a few years freelancing, but the constant hustle (and chasing invoices) wasn’t for me. But for the 6.7 million freelancers working in the U.S. today (64% of whom are full-time), freelancing offers flexibility, variety, and control that traditional salaried employment doesn’t. Brian Honigman has been a full-time freelancer for a decade and offered some great advice for those interested in freelancing—including finding your niche, prioritizing what brings you joy, and not saying yes to every job offer (which can be tough in the hustle to create your own salary).
If, like me, freelance isn’t for you, but—also like me—you value flexibility, a large part of being happy at work will be finding a job that doesn’t require you to be in the office eight to nine hours a day, five days a week. Writer Michael Grothaus collected the best flexible jobs in America right now that both let you work remotely (at least some of the time) and still pay well.
Pay
Flexibility and location are highly dependent on your personality and life circumstances. But one aspect of a good job is pretty universal: good pay. The best jobs offer both, but especially when you are early in your career, finding a career path or company that pays well is a crucial first stepping stone.
Company Culture
Even a well-paid flexible job can be miserable if you don’t like the people you work with or you don’t find your work meaningful. It can be tricky to figure out if you’ll like a workplace before you start, but a good indicator is company reviews, and this list of 20 companies are the most highly ranked by employees.
Ultimately, happiness at work, like happiness in life, is complex. As Fast Company contributor Tracy Brower explains:
Whether it’s the type of work you do, the hours you work, or the organization you work for, every choice is a set of circumstances. Some will be terrific and others, not so much. Your best bet is to figure out what you love to do and then get as much alignment as possible between what you enjoy and what you must do. The overlap won’t be perfect, but more alignment will grant you greater joy in your job.
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