Resolution, relief, and resignation: a qualitative study of responses to misfit at work

Research has portrayed person-environment (PE) fit as a pleasant condition resulting from people selecting into compatible work environments; yet, our study reveals that creating and maintaining a sense of fit frequently involves an effortful, dynamic set of strategies. We used a two-phased, qualitative design to allow employees to report in their own words what underlies their perceptions of PE misfit and strategies they use to respond to it. To address these questions, we conducted interviews with 81 individuals sampled from diverse industries and occupations. Through their descriptions we identified two broad approaches to managing misfit: working to resolve it and mitigating its negative consequences. Within these two approaches we identify seven distinct strategies, and present models of how participants used these strategies in combination when reacting to misfit. These results expand PE fit theory by providing new insight into how individuals experience and react to misfit, portraying them as active, motivated creators of their own fit at work.