Deciding on a new job is exciting and a little daunting. After all, we make a decision about what we’ll do and where and who we’ll work with after just a couple of interviews. And no one wants to start a role to discover it’s the wrong fit. So to help you make the right choice, here are the 5 things to consider before deciding on a new job.
1. Get a feel for the company culture
Start by doing a quick search of the company’s website and read through their values. Do they foster inclusivity and diversity? Innovation? Teamwork?
Whatever values the organisation has, make sure they align with your own.
Then go one step further, ask people who’ve worked there or worked with the company for their feedback. Did their experience with the organisation reflect their stated values?
2. Understand the policies
Company policies (or lack thereof) provide insight into how they treat their employees in practice, so get your hands on their policies before deciding on a new job.
You want to make sure that the policies actually reflect the values they say they have before accepting the role.
A good place to start is by looking at their parental leave policy.
Regardless of whether you want to have kids or if you’ve already got children, the parental leave policy will indicate how/if they support women in their organisation.
Do they actively encourage female participation in the company by supporting women during this time with generous maternity leave and flexible return to work options? And do they encourage active partner engagement through paternity/partner leave?
3. Have a development plan in place
Deciding on a new job should align with your overall career objectives. But before accepting a role, discuss the opportunities for development and progression with your prospective employer.
Are they willing to invest in you and your career through training, mentorship and coaching?
Be blunt and ask the question now and get a firm commitment before accepting the role.
Negotiate the type of development and support you want (such as the coaching for emerging leaders program) and see if they’ll come to the party. This will give you a development plan in place before you start and avoid disappointment and frustration down the track.
4. Make sure you’re getting paid right
The best time to negotiate salary is when you start at a new company so it’s important to make sure you are getting paid right before accepting a role. (Remember, you should always negotiate your salary and not simply accept what’s on offer!)
To start you’ll want to benchmark the role within the industry and then within the company. You can do this with the help of websites like Glassdoor, Indeed and Seek.com.
Also be aware of the perks on offer, their value and their usefulness to you and your lifestyle. Don’t get wooed by ‘perks’ that you won’t actually use or that have a low monetary value. After all, perks are nice, but you’re better off with money in the bank to spend as and when you please.
5. Trust your gut before accepting the role
Finally, trust your gut when deciding on a new job. You can do all the research and negotiation in the world, but your own intuition is usually the best guide. It will alert you to red flags that your conscious mind can’t articulate, so trust it.
Good luck!
Deciding on your new job is an important step in your career journey. But if you want to create lasting success and alignment in your career and life, it requires ongoing, deliberate thought and planning. Working with a coach does just that. Click here to find out more.