It’s time to nail that dream career, develop a killer application and get the job you love! But when applying for jobs or even deciding whether to work at a new company, it’s essential to look past the paycheck. Besides salary, it’s also crucial to consider how satisfied you’ll feel while in the job.
6 things to consider when applying for jobs
There are so many aspects of the organisation and job to consider, such as employee benefits, perks, and other non-tangible things. If you’re job hunting and have even received a job offer, here are a few factors you want to give a thought to before making a decision.
Job title and responsibilities
One of the first things to be aware of when applying for jobs is your title and responsibilities in the new job. This is because it defines your exact role and duties. If the job description is wide, it means your employer will require more flexibility from you and you are likely to take on more work.
Ensure that the description adequately reflects the role you’re applying for and does not have added responsibilities that you’re unwilling to do. Additionally, ensure that it’s correct. If it’s a managerial position for instance, you want to avoid a job title that simply states “executive.”
Whether they offer benefits like life insurance
Another critical factor you could look for when applying for jobs is whether your employer provides a solid life insurance policy. This is a key factor for your overall financial health and gives you the peace of mind that your family is safe in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as your death.
Should anything happen to you, the money will be paid directly to the beneficiaries to cover their basic living expenses, education, funeral expenses and much more.
Hours of work
Many people regret agreeing to a working pattern where they are required to do a lot of overtime work. Before committing to that job, discuss and reach an understanding with your employer about your regular working hours. Beyond that, try to enquire how much after hours work is considered normal.
For example, your job might require you to come in on weekends. As such, be sure to ask during your interview to have a clearer understanding of how your normal routine will be and whether it impacts your days.
While at it, if you accept a job where you will be working with odd hours such as evening hours, early morning, or during weekends, evaluate how this change will impact your life.
Company culture
The overall environment and culture at your new place will play a key role on how much you enjoy working there. This is why you need to find out whether the current employees are happy and how the company treats them.
Do they feel like they are valued at their work? Ask about social events and how often employees engage in them to have a rough picture of the environment. The idea is to choose a company with a suitable culture and values for your style before accepting the new role.
Salary
Getting the salary you deserve based on your services is vital when applying for jobs and in accepting a new job offer. Even so, your salary expectations need to be realistic.
It’s normal to be looking for a higher salary in your new role, but you also need to be looking for other desirable qualities. You can even take a pay cut if your new job offers other benefits or if the company has an excellent culture that you’d be proud to be part of. You may also be willing to take a salary cut if it’s a company that allows you to work for a social cause you care about.
Growth opportunities
During the interview phase when when applying for jobs, it’s necessary to ask about advancement opportunities in the company. Doing this will help you picture what a future with the employer looks like. Besides, asking this shows the hiring manager that you’re looking to invest your talent and time in the long term with the company.
Looking at the social media pages of other employees at the organisation can help you discover how long they’ve stayed in the same position. Many companies use the traditional growth trajectory where promotions are done within departments. That’s why it’s smart to know whether there are horizontal opportunities should you wish to pursue a lateral move to a different department within the company when your skills and interests evolve.
Conclusion
Once you’ve come up with a decision on whether to accept or turn down the job offer, you can proceed to let the employer know. Take your time to accept or decline the position and do it in a way that won’t burn any bridges with the prospective employer. One thing to remember is there are many aspects of the job and company to take into account apart from the salary.
Good luck!
