When you're looking for the right job, you have to take a myriad of factors into account:
- Do the hours suit you? Is overtime expected?
- Is the culture to your liking?
- Does your personality fit the culture and demands of the job?
- Are you okay with the distance to and from work?
- Are the salary and benefits sufficient?
- What is the room for growth like?
- Do you feel you'd get along well with your supervisor?
- Does the job require travel? If so, would you be okay with that?
Unfortunately, the answers to most of these questions will likely remain a mystery until you've been working there for a while. It's impossible to decipher what the culture will be like when you've only sat for one or two interviews.
That's why I recommend that people do their research beforehand. Visit sites like glassdoor.com for any reviews that current or former employees may have written about the company. Perhaps you notice that a friend of a friend on Linkedin works at the company, and you can get some information and tips from her. It goes without saying that the internet is an invaluable tool to leverage during the job-hunting process.
I must have sat for over 100 interviews over the last couple of years. As much as I tried to assess during the interview whether the job would be a good fit, I never knew for sure until I had been working there at least a month. I actually wound up resigning from two jobs after realizing that they were poor fits for my personality.
I wanted something structured that kept me at my desk the whole day. The jobs, both at non-profits, required me to be out and about, constantly interfacing with various departments and third parties.
Unfortunately, I had the arduous task of finding a good job while the country was in the throes of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Sooner or later, I had to settle on something. I ended up finding a job in the hospitality industry, which I've worked in ever since and find to be quite exciting.
I realize that priorities like putting food on the table preclude us from having the time and flexibility to pick and choose which jobs we want. But if you ever sense that what you're about to get into would be a horrible fit -- whether because of the hours, pay, or culture -- you might be better holding off until something better comes your way.
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