Published initially on Relish Growth.
This post will share eight green flags you need to look out for when job hunting.
I started a new job in January, and while it has simply been five months, I’m already accumulating all the lessons I’ve learned. As you get older, certain things will become even more important to you.
This also applies to our jobs. We spend way too much of our lives working; it has to count for something at the end of the day. We have to be fairly compensated and rewarded for all the time and effort we put into our jobs.
It recently occurred that some people might not know what to look out for when job hunting. Sometimes you might not even know what is important to you until you have worked in some companies. It is crucial to spend your teens and early twenties experimenting. See what various companies of different sizes offer.
You’ll be job hunting intentionally when you reach your mid-twenties. You would have realized your worth and won’t settle for less, regardless of how tempting it is. It would be best to use your twenties to start a side hustle. This way, you’re not settling for shitty jobs because you have something you can fall back on.
I worked for small to medium-sized companies early in my career. Having worked with several solopreneurs and early-stage pre-seed startups, I know what it’s like to wear several hats and exert myself as far as possible. When I returned to the workforce two years ago, I did not hesitate to work for a large company.
So I’ve gone from working with 1-10 employees to 1,000 – 10,000 employees. I’m now better positioned to decide never to work for small companies again. I like the manageable workload and the stress-free life I currently have. This means I can finish work and still have time for side hustles.
So, if you’re currently job hunting and unsure what to look for to benefit you, this post is for you.
Here Are 8 Factors To Consider When Choosing A New Job.
Like everything else, you might need to compromise depending on your life stage. While the perfect job might not exist, you can find the ideal one. One where you can bring your best self to work and be rewarded. Also, one where you can decently be good at and can be reasonably compensated as well. Whichever one works for you.
Fair Salary
There’s nothing worse than being underpaid, especially when working full-time. Not being able to afford nice things outside bills is not great. So, ensure that you’re well compensated.
Look up salary calculators online to determine how much take-home pay you’ll get after deduction, including tax and pensions. Make that the amount left will be enough to sustain you for a month to a large extent.
Pension Scheme
I never really used to pay attention to the pension scheme of companies. Until I realized at my last job that companies that match your pension contribution up to 10% mean that if you contribute 10%, they also donate 10%. Altogether you have 20% going into your pension fund every month.
The highest they can match at my current job is 8%, which is not great. But now that I’m better informed, I know what to look out for at my next job. You might think 10% is not much, but it adds up quickly over time. Also, if you want to pay less tax, you can contribute more to your pension.
This method is called salary sacrifice.
Annual Leave Entitlement
As someone that has been to eight countries this year, I don’t joke about my annual leave. Here in the UK, we legally get 20 days of annual leave plus eight bank holidays.
That is 28 days across the year. Some people prefer to take one month off, while others are like me that spread it across the year.
I take two days off each month, which gives me four days to see a new country. I applied for the extra during my birthday week or the Christmas holidays.
Perks
Some companies have nice perks like a discounted gym membership, Dental or Eyecare vouchers, cheap health insurance, and even a Costco membership. They are usually additional benefits to motivate and reward employees.
Try not to be so fixated on this because you can not tell what each company provides until you join. Just make sure you take advantage of them.
Remote working
Unlike some people, remote work is vital to me. No, I don’t want a hybrid approach. It’s either fully remote or nothing. If this is important to you, actively seek out fully remote jobs.
Some companies try to be shady by luring people in with remote work and changing to hybrid. Avoid this by ensuring you don’t live too close to your office location. This way, you can be remote as long as possible.
Diversity & Inclusion
Nothing shows how progressive a company is like diversity and inclusion. If you’re from a minority background and want to feel comfortable in your new job without experiencing microaggressions, make sure it is a diverse company.
Check the company website ahead, and check their LinkedIn account for the current employees. Also, check Glassdoor and Indeed for company reviews from former employees.
Career Progression
Some companies make career progression very easy, while others make it so complicated that you have a higher chance of getting promoted when you look for a new job. Depending on your career stage, you must discover how easy it is to progress to a new higher role.
Sometimes you might not know until you start the job. But if it is essential to you, ensure you’re asking the right questions during the interviews. If you want to do your job and can’t be bothered with career progression, that’s also fine.
Company Culture
This is another aspect you might not be able to find out until you start the job. Still, use online resources like Glassdoor and Indeed to gauge the company culture. Some areas you should watch out for include:
- Seamless onboarding
- Manageable workload
- Systems, tech & tools
- Training & Coaching
- Challenging work
- Supportive management
- Strong leadership
- Open and honest communication
It’s not until you have worked in a few companies that you notice some of these factors. They might not look important right now, but they can be the difference between looking forward to your job or completely hating it.
Finally
I hope this list of eight factors to look out for will help you the next time you’re job hunting. The workforce can be a maze for beginners, but I hope you enjoy this straightforward, helpful guide.
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