A Career Fit Guide for Candidates Considering a Job at an EOS® Company
In the movie Ocean’s Eleven, Danny Ocean doesn’t just pull together any group of people—he carefully builds a team where each person brings something essential to the mission. Everyone has a specific role, and they only join if they truly understand what’s involved, actually want to do it, and have what it takes to pull it off. That’s what makes the team work.
You’re considering a seat (a job) at a company that runs on EOS®. That’s a great sign. EOS companies are intentional about building strong teams, creating clarity, and delivering results that matter. But before you step in, here’s the most important question:
Would you be a right person in the right seat if you took the job?
The EOS framework helps companies get the right people in the right seats. This guide flips the lens to you—the candidate—so you can evaluate whether the seat you’re considering fits your values, strengths, and long-term vision.
Below are six key EOS tools and concepts you can use to guide your decision-making.
1. Core Values: Do You Align with the Culture? Every EOS company clearly defines its Core Values—these are not fluff or window dressing. They drive every people decision in the organization: who gets hired, who thrives, who gets promoted, and who doesn’t stick.
Ask yourself:
- Do these values reflect who I am at my best?
- Do I feel at home being around people with these core values?
- Would I be energized working with people who live these values every day?
If the answer is yes, that’s a strong indicator that you’ll feel a sense of belonging and shared purpose. Like Danny Ocean’s team, shared values are the foundation for trust and collaboration.
2. Core Focus™: Will You Be Doing What You Love and Are Great At? Just as EOS companies have a Core Focus—their purpose and niche—you have one too. It’s the intersection of what lights you up and what you do better than most.
Ask:
- Do I resonate with the Company's Core Focus?
- Will this seat give me the chance to use my best skills most days?
- Will I be working on problems or projects I find meaningful and energizing?
When your personal Core Focus and the company’s Core Focus overlap, the work feels more like a calling than an obligation. In Ocean’s Eleven, each crew member gets to do what they love and are brilliant at—which is why the plan works.
3. Personal 10-Year Target: Is This on the Path to Your Ideal Life? EOS companies think long term, and so should you. Take a moment to define your personal 10-Year Target—your own vision of long-term success. That could include career accomplishments, family goals, health milestones, financial independence, or spiritual growth.
Ask:
- What do I want my life to be like in 10 years?
- Will this seat move me toward that future—or is it a detour?
- What is the Company's 10 Year Target and do I want to be a part of making it a reality?
Career moves that align with your vision build momentum and confidence. The ones that don’t can create unnecessary friction.
4. 3-Year Picture: Does This Fit the Life You’re Building Soon? Now zoom in. What does a successful life look like for you three years from now?
Ask:
- What does a great workday look and feel like?
- What kind of people do I want to be working with?
- What kind of flexibility, compensation, growth, or impact am I hoping for?
- Will this seat help me get there?
- Does my 3 Year Picture fit into the company's 3 Year Picture?
A great seat should support—not compete with—the life you want to create in the near future.
5. Accountability Chart: Do You Clearly Understand the Seat? EOS companies don’t use traditional org charts. They use Accountability Charts—clear, role-based structures where each seat is defined by 4–7 key roles, and everyone knows who reports to whom. It is a responsibility chart rather than a power chart. Think of it as showing the gear that each person is carrying in their pack and the responsibilities they have on this journey we are taking as a company.
Before you step into the seat, ask to see the Accountability Chart. Then ask yourself:
- Do I clearly understand the seat I’m being considered for?
- Do I know who I’ll report to and whether I’ll lead others?
- Do the 4–7 roles listed align with what I’m great at and want to own?
Clarity here is one of the biggest predictors of success in an EOS organization. In Ocean’s Eleven, every person had a role. Knowing exactly what you own makes execution possible.
6. GWC™: Do You Get It, Want It, and Have the Capacity? Now that you understand the seat and its roles, it’s time to evaluate whether you truly fit the roles of the seat now. EOS uses the GWC™ tool to make this call—and you can too:
- Get It: Do you intuitively understand the seat, the responsibilities, and how it fits into the bigger picture? Can you see how the roles interact with other seats in the company? Do you know what success looks like in the roles of the seat and do you know how to get there? Getting it often comes from natural wiring or past experience. Think of Frank Catton, the inside man who got the dynamics of the casino without explanation.
- Want It: Do you genuinely want to sit in this seat—not just for the compensation or prestige, but because the work excites and motivates you? Are you drawn to the roles and responsibilities listed? Like Rusty, who didn’t just say yes to the job—he leaned in with energy and focus.
- Capacity: Do you have the time, energy, skill set, emotional intelligence, geographic capacity, and mental bandwidth to succeed in this seat? Capacity is about your ability to consistently deliver on the seat’s roles with excellence. Saul only stepped in when he knew he was ready.
You need to confidently answer “yes” to all three. A single “no” here typically means it’s not the right seat—or not the right time. Sometimes you and the company may be willing to invest in getting you to all "yes's" but make sure you are on the same page about what that will take before moving forward.
GWC doesn't have to be forever. Companies change, people change, we advance in our career and those things are all ok. When you are evaluating GWC, consider whether there is a time commitment expected by the company. Also consider your career goals and aspirations as well. If for example, you are planning on starting business school in 6 months, you probably wouldn't want to take a job that takes 6 months before you will be fully trained. That isn't fair to you (you won't be able to truly succeed) or the company (they will be making an investment in you to have you leave right when you are ready to begin fully participating).
Why Fit Matters—For You. You owe it to yourself to sit in a seat where you truly fit. That means a company whose Core Values align with yours, and a seat where you GWC the roles. It’s tempting to accept an opportunity just because it looks good on paper, but if the fit isn’t there, it will catch up with you—and with the company too.
Being honest upfront about whether this seat is right for you is one of the most powerful things you can do for your career. You’ll be happier, more energized, and more fulfilled if you’re in a seat where you belong. The right seat doesn’t just help the company—it helps you grow, contribute meaningfully, and live a better life.
Final Thought: Make the Decision That’s Right for You. In Ocean’s Eleven, the team only worked because each person fit the mission, knew their seat, and trusted the people around them. That’s not fiction—it’s a powerful model for real-life teams too. EOS companies are building something meaningful, and they’re looking for people who are aligned—not just available.
So take the time. Reflect. Use these questions to guide your process. Talk to your potential leaders about your answers. They’ll likely appreciate your thoughtfulness—and if you both decide it’s a great fit, you’ll be joining a team where everyone plays a part, pulls their weight, and wins together.