Changing jobs is a big step in your career journey. By being more intentional with your applications, you’ll allow yourself to properly consider the role and company you’re applying to. There are lots of questions you should be asking yourself to assess whether or not a job is right for you.
If you’re currently job hunting then make sure you consider these factors before you start applying.
Salary and Compensation Package
One of the first things you should be asking about a job is how much you would get paid to do it. Find out the salary that the company is offering and compare this to similar companies in the same industry. If the salary is lower than you expected, it’s worth checking what sort of benefits and bonuses would be included in your compensation package. This can include private healthcare, holiday allowance, retirement contributions, commission, student loan repayment and private insurance. Before accepting a job offer, make sure your compensation package aligns with your own budget and expectations as well as industry standards.
Working Hours
It’s important to choose a job that has working hours that suit your lifestyle. If working hours aren’t specified on the application, don’t make the mistake of assuming that it’s a standard 9am to 5pm job. Make sure you understand the hours you’ll be expected to work each day and work, whether or not you’ll be expected to work overtime and if there’s any flexibility in days and times the company wants you to work. This is particularly important to consider if you have any inflexible commitments, such as childcare responsibilities. You should also find out if public holiday or weekend work is required and if you must be "on-call" when away from work.
Company Culture
Your happiness at work will be largely determined by the culture of your new working environment. You can get an idea about what the company is like to work for by looking at websites such as Glassdoor, where former employees might have left reviews for the company. If you can find out if the current employees are happy working for the company, that will also give you some reassurance. You can do this by asking your interviewer if they enjoy working there, what the employee turnover rate is and if there is a social aspect to the working environment.
Location and Commute
If you’re applying for roles that require you to be on site, the location of the company is a very important factor to consider. If you don’t own a car, make sure you check what the commute would look like and how long it would take you to get to work every day. If you drive, work out how long it would take you to drive into work as well as how much fuel and parking would cost. If you live in a location where transport links are limited or rush-hour traffic is particularly bad, you may want to consider looking for roles with hybrid or work from home options.
Company Stability
Ahead of interviewing for a role, research the company’s financial stability, reputation and growth plans. This will help you weigh up their long-term viability and you’ll be able to decide if you think there will be a lot of job security in the role or not. While you won’t be able to predict the future, looking at a company’s history will give you some insight into its stability. Look for answers to the following questions:
How long have they been in business?
Are they expanding or streamlining their team?
How do they compare to other companies in their industry?
Have they laid off employees previously?
Have they been in the news for legal or financial troubles?
Career Progression
If the company is experiencing a lot of growth, there may be some good opportunities for you to progress in your career there. If you have aspirations of being promoted then this is something that you need to look into. A job that offers progression and skill enhancement is much more likely to make you happier and more motivated than one that doesn’t. Asking about career progression in your interview will also let the company know that you’re someone who’s ambitious and will give you an idea of what you can expect in your future at the company.
Technology
Most jobs require you to use technology such as computers, phones and tablets. Before accepting a job offer, find out what tech and equipment the company will provide you with and what you’re expected to provide yourself. If you’re expected to use your own laptop or computer then you need to factor this into your salary expectations as it will increase your expenses over time. You should also ensure that you also understand what sort of software, hardware and operating systems you’ll be expected to use on a daily basis and make sure you’re familiar with them.
Company Values
Before working with a company, make sure you have a good idea of what their values, mission and vision are. Most companies put this sort of information on their website and social media channels so make sure you do your research. Compare these values to your own and see if they align before making any decisions. For example, if charity is important to you then it’s worth checking if the company supports any charities or partners with any community groups. If you’re personally involved in charity work then it’s also worth checking if there is anything the company would do to support this, such as offering paid days off to carry out charity work.
Before accepting any job offers, make sure you’ve given enough time and consideration to all of these factors. This will help you make a smart judgment about whether the role and company is right for your current situation and your future goals. Make sure your next job ticks as many of your boxes as possible so you don’t have to compromise on factors that are really important to you.
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