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How to chose the best empoyer?
Before deciding to change employers, it's worthwhile to conduct a thorough analysis. The fact of the matter is that recent trends indicate we will be changing jobs more frequently and are unlikely to remain with a new employer until retirement. However, I encourage you to undertake the effort of shaping your own career path and making informed choices about future employers. Remember, we are responsible for our professional decisions.
From my experience as a headhunter and career coach, many professional decisions are made quite emotionally and not always accurately. Each of us makes mistakes, and personally, I believe that "one must move forward rather than cry over spilled milk". Changing employers is always associated with risk, but we can minimize this risk by collecting and analyzing data.
What to consider when choosing the best employer?
When analyzing an employer's offer, it's important to start by defining what is most important to us in the new position. Below are a few areas to consider:
Position/professional role:
To what extent does this position align with my career plan? How can this position contribute to the next change in my career? Will this be a lateral or vertical promotion for me? Is this a new position? Why was it created?/What happened to my predecessor? What can I learn by holding this position? What "transferable" skills will I develop in this position (e.g., communication, team management, project management, analytical abilities, leadership, managing a dispersed team, conflict management, presentation skills, strategic thinking, risk management, etc.)? What competencies am I lacking for this position? (To what extent will their absence affect the achievement of objectives? How do I plan to fill the competency gaps?) What will be my added value in the organization? / What will determine it? What are the main goals in this position? How will they be measured? Are they achievable and sufficiently ambitious? What are the typical challenging situations I will have to face? What team, if any, will I be managing. What do I know about it? What team will I be working in – what do I know about it?
Employer/organization:
Why do I want to work for this company/organization? What is the organizational culture? What are the opinions about the company? What is the level of turnover in the organization (employee departures)? What causes it? What are the mission, vision, and values of the company – are they aligned with mine? What is the management style in the organization (e.g., what initiatives are welcome, how are conflicts resolved, how does the supervisor motivate the team, is there an annual/quarterly review? How often is feedback given?) What is the overall strategy of the organization? (does it respond to market trends and to what extent does it take competition into account). Is the company growing, and if so, how (organic growth or through acquisition)?
Development:
By taking this position, will I have access to new systems/technologies (which ones)? By taking this position, will I have access to new knowledge? (in what form: training/studies, coaching/mentoring/sharing best practices, conferences). Will this position allow me to expand my network of contacts / in what areas? What possibilities does this position offer for further development within the organization? Can this position contribute to my personal development (e.g., working in a multicultural environment/working at a regional/global level, relocating to another city/country)? What are the main challenges in this position?
Other aspects:
What salary is offered for this position? (is it consistent with my expectations? How does this offer compare to salaries on the market?) What are the additional benefits? Is the company's location convenient for me? What are the working hours/does the employer offer flexible working hours? What does the work environment look like? What is the % of business travel? Will this change have any negative impact on my personal life?
Consider other aspects that affect your well-being at work.
Where to get all this information?
Some information can be obtained during the interview with the employer. Usually, at the end of the recruitment interview, you have time to ask our own questions, often also you go through several stages of recruitment interviews – at each of them, you can ask questions. It's also worth analyzing information on the Internet (company website, press reports, employer reviews). I also encourage you to use the so-called "informational interview" often used by Americans. In short, it's a conversation with someone currently or previously working in the company that interests us. An informational interview is also a conversation with someone holding the position that interests us (not necessarily working in the organization we want to work for). During such a conversation, it's worth asking a few questions from the above or formulated independently. Of course, the matter is quite simple if you know our interlocutor well. If we do not know anyone working in the organization we are considering, it's worth asking acquaintances or/and family, using our professional network of contacts, or simply trying to directly contact an employee of the company through LinkedIn.
In such a case, I recommend the following:
Openly write what you are about (considering starting work in this organization), Send questions in advance, adjust to the time and form suggested by that person (e.g., meeting, phone, written response) i.e., do not abuse this person's time, Maintain good manners, e.g., confirm that if our interlocutor would like to know something from the area we are familiar with in the future, we are ready to help.
I emphasize – ask about specifics, do not ask general questions that are impossible to answer, e.g., "is it good to work there" (what does it mean to be good?).
In conclusion…
Being wiser with additional information, simply conduct a thorough analysis of the company and the position itself. Consider what is a priority for us and what we can "let go".
Changing jobs, like any change, carries a certain amount of stress, but by approaching the topic skillfully, we can reduce this stress. Studies show*, that people who change jobs more frequently earn more over their entire professional career than those who do not change employers. It's worth, therefore, to "acclimate to the change" of employers.
*“Employees who stay in companies longer than two years get paid 50% less”
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Agnieszka Piątkowska