Whether you accept a paid internship or an entry-level job, finding a good company goes far beyond the job description. From company culture to growth opportunities, there are many things you should keep in mind when choosing a potential employer.
According to the latest data study of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate is hovering around 6.1% in 2021. However, the unemployment rate has not fully recovered from the mass unemployment, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an unprecedented rate of 14.8%. Now that the job market has improved in many industries, workers are beginning to find employment opportunities again. Therefore, employers need to work harder to attract the best talent once again.
Remote work, a diverse and inclusive workplace, is at the forefront of the company’s employer branding strategy to attract potential employees.
Covid 19’s Impact on Candidate’s Job Preferences
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic changed the way most people view work. While workers were compelled to work from home, more than half the workforce now seeks the option of telecommuting for a variety of reasons. Some workers say they have been more productive working from home, while others enjoy the flexibility of balancing their life priorities.
Getting people back into office will continue to be a central theme in 2021. Employees now have specific expectations from companies to ensure that individual work is safe, well-planned, and optional.
Whether you’re looking for new opportunities for a fresh restart or have just begun your career, you must look for these six things in a company.
- Does the Organization’s Values Align With Yours?
The most crucial thing to note when researching potential employers is how their values fit in with yours. That’s because working for a company is much more than the hours you put in each day.
It’s about knowing the company’s values (like honesty, integrity, and hard work) and understanding how those values match your own. Whether it’s looking for a company you admire or one that believes in taking care of the environment, you must realize that you and your potential employer have the same values. And then, you can build a lasting relationship.
- Check Mission Statement
An organization’s mission statement describes its inner motivations to be in business, and it’s the values that give it a meaningful purpose. You can usually find this data on the company’s website or in its marketing content. If you have trouble finding the details, you can use the values they refer to or how they present themselves to determine the organization’s primary motivations.
- Scope For Learning & Development
Opportunities to develop your career and learn new skills are significant, especially in the early stages of your undergraduate career. In addition, building on your graduate skill set will help you become more employable as you progress through your career by taking more responsibilities.
Before you start searching for entry-level opportunities, consider learning and developing your list of things to look for in a company. It may include structured in-house training programs, online learning, or opportunities to improve additional skills, such as accountancy or marketing.
In job interviews, it’s a good idea to ask about the company’s learning and growth opportunities. Whether it is a structured training program, curriculum, the opportunity to acquire new qualifications/skills, or the scope to work on a range of different projects — all of these will be of great benefit to you now. As you progress in your career, they should be the topmost priority in your list of things to look for in the company.
- Identify Room for Growth Within the Organization
In addition to providing you the opportunities to learn about the industry, a great company should also provide opportunities for advancement within the organization. It’s even more critical for internships and entry-level positions because the opportunity to gain a promotion or a full-time role is a great perk to grow and learn within the organization.
Usually, renowned companies mainly provide room for growth within the organization. Here’s a quick tip to find whether the company is reputed or not.
- Check for Latest Press Mentions
When considering the company, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the latest developments and news from the company. You can get a better idea of an organization’s latest achievements and challenges by checking whether they’ve press releases on their website or by performing a simple search on the Internet.
- Flexibility
Can you work from home? Is the work/shift flexible? These are some questions to keep in mind when considering a potential employer. The pandemic has taught the companies that remote work is possible and must be provided to employees when needed — which used to get declined earlier if asked.
Notably, many employees prefer to work in a flexible, low-paying work environment rather than a flexible, high-paying work environment.
- Employee Turnover
It is no secret that employee turnover is high worldwide. However, we cannot blame the pandemic every time. If your potential employer turnover is skyrocketing, It is necessary to identify the reason behind it. When evaluating the company, try contacting its employees on social networking sites like LinkedIn. Ask them about the turnover and other experiences about the company.
The companies with high employee turnover indicate that something is not right with their workplace environment. And it is necessary to evaluate the same before making a final decision.
- Package
And last but not least, your package. The package is definitely something to consider. Even if the initial package offered is below average, see how the salary grows over the next 3-5 years and whether it’s worth it.
Almost all graduates say that money will no longer be an issue after working ten years (in any field). So don’t let it become the most crucial factor in your mind.
One way to approach this whole process is to rate each factor on a scale of 1-5 as per your preferences. The rating will help you identify how important each factor is to you individually.
Once you identify what you must be looking for in a company, it’s time to find the jobs and apply for them. One of the crucial ways to attract job opportunities of your liking is to become a part of our talent pool — without any registration fees.
Submit your resume now to become a part of our diverse talent pool.
