When looking for new jobs, we constantly find ourselves under scrutiny and being assessed by employers who may or may not want to consider us for their team. It is all too easy to get wrapped up in trying to impress employers, that we sometimes forget that we should also be assessing them. Being able to properly assess potential employers and consider if they are right for you, is really important in making sure that your next opportunity is the right one.
Employers come in different shapes and sizes with different working environments, training programs, rewards and development opportunities. Your task is to work out what is right for you.
There is no point in you wasting your time applying for jobs and attending interviews with companies that ultimately aren’t quite what you were hoping for. You can be a little bit picky!
Taking the time to discover what options are available to you and to pinpoint what you want in your career will be hugely beneficial in the long-run. Looking for a new job is hard work, so when you do start that next opportunity you need to know that it is right for your career.
Here’s what you should be considering:
Contents
1. The size of the company
Do you want to work for a multi-corporate giant or do you feel that you’d be better suited in a small/medium-sized business? Think about the benefits that each can offer and what appeals most to you.
2. What location you want to work in
Where do you want to work? Is it easy to get to? Will you be prepared to travel or move?
These are all important questions that you should be asking before even commencing your job search. Decide whether you fancy working in a big city, or like the sound of the remote country, or something in-between. Your choice of career may point to a certain location in which case you need to figure out if you want to commute or move there.
3. What the commute is going to be
Closely tied in with making your decision about a location is whether you are prepared to commute and if so how far? Having to commute can add a significant amount of time onto your working day. Rush hour traffic and travelling may also have a negative impact on your mood.
If you don’t have a car or are thinking of a city location, it is definitely worth looking into your public transport options and thinking about where you can get to without too much difficulty.
4. If the company culture suits you
Company culture is likely to dictate what you wear to work every day, so if you hate suits then maybe steer clear of the more traditional or corporate companies. Checking out a company’s website and looking at their social media should be able to give you a good idea about what their company culture is like.
5. Whether training and progression are on offer
This is most important when you are just starting out or are in the early stages of your career, but you should still consider it at every step. If you want to be able to progress professionally then you need a company that will give you the tools to do so. Find out as much as you can about the training on offer, whether it is in-house, on the job or includes external courses.
Being stuck in a role that does not allow you to grow and develop is not ideal for any career-driven professional.
6. Will there be a good work-life balance?
Working hours vary depending on your chosen career and only you can decide how many hours or what hours you are prepared to work. Think about what you want in terms of a work-life balance and find out if the companies you are considering can offer you this. It is not advisable to ask at the first-stage in the interview process, but you should try to find out what a company’s working hours are (do some digging online).
7. Will you have to travel?
Some people love travelling around a region or the country rather than being stuck in an office and others would prefer to have a stable desk to go to each day. Certain roles naturally require you to travel to various locations, some companies offer opportunities to work in different locations and even abroad. Think about what it is that you prefer when looking for your next role.
Establish what you want out of your next career move before jumping straight into your job search. These 7 points will help you to properly assess potential employers and set you up for landing a role that is perfect for you and your career.
