The Job Rating Game

Of course, not every job candidate can arrange a sit-down with the CEO. But there are other ways to gauge the quality of leaders. "Start with the company's Web site," says Belliveau. "Download speeches that state the CEO's values. Then look for clues to determine whether the CEO lives by those values. Where does he or she give speeches? What organizations is he or she affiliated with?"

Ultimately, the challenge of choosing the right job is a lot like any other business challenge -- the harder you work at it, the better the results. An added benefit of educating yourself about companies you might join is that you learn a lot about yourself in the process. "All the information you gather doesn't mean a thing until you filter it through the lens of your values," says Belliveau. "You first have to know what's important to you, and then map your personal priorities onto the data you gather."

Indeed, adds John Sullivan, the real goal is to find a job that doesn't feel like a job. "Is there anything that you love doing so much that you would continue to do it even if you were filthy rich?" he asks. "The secret is to find your passion -- and then to find a company that's willing to pay you to pursue it."

Michael Warshaw (mwarshaw@fastcompany.com) is a senior editor at Fast Company.