Wanting to get right back into the work force after being laid-off is a common quest. It isn’t any fun losing a job and your first thought after being let go is to get right back to the search with earnest. You have family obligations and/or are not used to sitting around by the phone waiting for a call. So your inclination is to send your resume out to every company and every open position.

But have you given thought to where you really want to work, what you really want to do?

We all need an income but as I have said previously in a comment, nothing kills your chances of finding of job when all you want is just a JOB. I have seen many candidates come by my desk “pleading” to be considered even though they aren’t right for the position. I recall early on, before my career as a recruiter, saying the very same thing to a company “I can do the job, just give me a chance!” The truth was, I probably could have done the job if given the opportunity. But did they consider me? Of course not. I didn’t understand until much later that a company is a business first. They are out there to make an excellent product or service and make money doing so. Because of this they’ll hire the best people to perform the functions that will help them reach that goal. Internal teams often don’t have time to train so will gravitate first to those that can “hit the ground running” and make an immediate impact.

Companies are also made up of individuals not only with similar industry experience and skill but ones who share a similar philosophy. Each corporate culture and work environment is unique. As such, internal teams look for like-minded individuals who share their vision and will get along well with them. This cohesiveness allows the company to flourish and grow. As Seth Godin, author of Tribes, states “Tribes are about [a] belief in an idea and in a community…they are grounded in respect and admiration for the leader of the tribe and for other members as well.”

So if you are thinking about that next job, think about the company and the work environment that best suits you. This is really important. Are you interested in their product or service, enough to believe in what you are creating? Does the job sound interesting enough to challenge you and one which you can do daily? Is it somewhere you can learn and build upon your skills which will in turn make you more marketable and valuable? Does it fit your area of expertise and career goals? Because there is nothing worse than working at something which lacks passion.

Be just as selective about who you’ll work with, as a company is about you as a candidate. Assess your strengths and disposition – do you like smaller companies or larger, do you like to work alone or with a team, do you want to move up in a company or happy staying in one function – essentially, what is your comfort level? Because if you take the time to take a realistic inventory of yourself it will translate in finding the right circumstance for you, and ultimately, this passion will come through in the job application.

I know our company is wonderful, but even we get turned down. So ask yourself, do you really want to work for just anyone?