Top 10 things candidates consider when choosing a company in 2022

8/8/2022 | By Marella Gimenez

Current Trend in Job Application

When looking for a job, it's important to keep talent and career growth potential top of mind. The best candidates are those who have the talent and drive to succeed in a role, and who also see the opportunity for growth within a company. With remote work becoming prevalent and companies now offering more flexibility than ever, work-life balance and company culture have been important key factors when considering a job.

With that in mind, here are a few things to consider when looking for a job or when a new opportunity comes knocking on your door:

 

1. Location.

Your workday computation should include the time you consume traveling to and from the workplace. To many, travel time to work and home eats up a huge chunk of their day.

Consider your would-be job as a lifetime activity. Think carefully about how much time you are prepared to use up driving or commuting back and forth to work on a daily basis.

A company's location will play an important role in your success at work. If you live in an urban area, consider the amount of time you will be spending stuck in traffic and the amount of stress that will bring.

If you need to travel far to reach work, imagine how that will affect your personal and family life. Always keep in mind that your objective in looking for work is to be able to lead a better life. You will be unable to reach that goal if most of your time is spent at work and on the road.

One other factor linked with company location is the cost of travel to and from work. Even if the job offer is high, you may be using a huge portion of your salary on fuel, parking fees, or bus and taxi fares.

2. Benefits.

One of the factors in work longevity is the kind of benefits that a company provides. Look at the benefits packages that a company provides. Check the amount of health coverage that they provide.

Another item to look out for is a company's retirement plan. A business establishment with an impressive employee retirement program is a sign that the company looks out for the welfare of its employees, especially those who choose to stay for a long time.

Check the company's sick and vacation leave allotments. Find out what happens to unused leave credits. Are they added to next year's leave credits or converted to cash?

If the company you really want to apply for is really far, it would be wise to determine if they offer relocation assistance.

Some companies provide their employees with wellness benefits such as gym memberships and on-site yoga sessions. And, there are firms that include free travel perks, fuel allowance, grocery allocations, and other forms of subsidies.

3. Salary.

Of course, take-home pay should be one of the most important elements that you have to consider when choosing a company. The amount of remuneration should be competitive with what is being offered in the labor market for the position you are vying for.

Before you choose a company, make sure that you know the salary range of your corporate level.

However, choosing is not as simple as who pays the highest. You also need to match the benefits against the net pay. A company may be offering a higher take-home pay but is giving out lesser benefits. Match salaries and benefits between companies and weigh your options. You may end up earning less with a company that shells out more on salaries and the benefits that you didn't get are the ones that you really need.

4. Working Hours.

Are you comfortable with changing shift schedules/shift bid systems? Are you ready to work a graveyard shift?

Different companies offer different working schedules and it all depends on what their business requires. A contact center providing customer service for North American clients will need workers serving clients around the clock so you have to be ready with changing shifts every now and then. Industries in the production field also need workers manning the production floor the entire day.

You have to know the working hours of a company before you give out your CV. Find out how many hours you have to clock in within a week. Know what their rest days are. Their working schedule may coincide with one of your personal activities which you may not want to give up.

5. Job Roles & Responsibilities.

Before you choose the company that you want to work for, list down all your strengths and weaknesses. Job ads normally include a comprehensive description of the responsibilities required for every specific position. Make sure that your profile is aligned to what the company requires.

If you are more comfortable working as part of a team, it may not be very smart to choose a company that will require you to work alone.

Always compare job descriptions with your personality and make sure that they match.

6. Team Collaboration.

Another thing that you need to consider when looking for a company to work for is the kind of workflow system they have in place. This is essential particularly if its your first job.

Collaboration is important if you are not new to a company. You need guidance from tenured employees and supervisors so that you can be up to speed with the company's internal processes.

What type of communication do they use to distribute instructions, updates, and reminders? How often do they conduct team meetings? The answers to these questions will indicate the level of work collaboration a company has.

If you know the collaborative tools that a company uses, you can research how they function.

7. Company Culture/Values.

Read the mission statement of the company you wish to apply for. Make sure that it is aligned with your personal values. For example, a business objective is to be the biggest supplier of plastic containers and you are an avid supporter of eco-friendly products. Obviously, your values do not match the goal of the business and that would result in incompatibility.

Your target is to get a job that will sustain you for a long time. it will be a long-term relationship between you and the company you will be working for. It would be best for you to consider a company that fosters objectives that are parallel to yours.

If you are the kind of person who spends his free time looking for ways to help other people, a company that supports charitable institutions will be a great match for you.

8. Workplace Environment.

Since you will be spending almost half of your day at work, you need to research the company's work conditions.

Look for photos of their workplace. The size of a business work area is usually dependent on the type of industry and the size of the company. Will you be comfortable working for a company that has over a thousand employees or would you rather be employed in a mid-size enterprise?

Read reviews of the company and check if it has numerous complaints from former employees.

9. Opportunities for Growth.

If you are just starting out with your career, you need to consider a company with a robust growth program. A company that offers many personal development and work advancement opportunities will be a very wise choice.

However, if you are an experienced worker looking for opportunities in other companies, look for firms that provide training so that you can develop your skills more. A lot of companies nowadays recognize the value of self-development for their staff in preparation for higher positions in the company. This will help you speed up your career growth and be a better version of yourself.

One other thing that makes a company a good choice is if it practices employee appraisal and recognition. It's a huge plus factor if a company has incentive programs for people who do their job well.

10. Company Stability.

Understandably, no one can tell what the future holds for everyone, not even what seemingly is the most stable company. Every now and then, we see in the news multinational companies such as well-known financial institutions close down and leave thousands of employees jobless.

But that does not mean that you will just apply to the first work opportunity that comes your way. It is still important that you perform due diligence before you submit that application form.

If the company has an online presence, then it is easy to look into the company's background.

Check on how long the company has been operating. How many times have they expanded and downsized? Compare the company with the other companies in the same industry and see how they match up. You may also want to see if the company has gone through legal troubles before. You do not want to end with a company that was closed down before because of unscrupulous activities.

Your job is your career. Consider those companies that are continually expanding and possess a good reputation.

 

Before you choose the company that you want to apply for, always keep in mind that aside from job security, you need to be comfortable at work and compatible with the company's culture. 

Aside from the 10 things that were already mentioned, you also need to consider the work system that a company utilizes. If their work schedule promotes life and work balance, that's a good start. Observe the company's employees and see their overall demeanor. If the majority are smiling and happy, you may be in for a smooth second base. 

If you want to move up in the world fast, look for a company that will challenge you to grow and improve not only as an employee but also as an individual. When you finally get a job that you really like, everything else will seem effortless.