6 Effective Ways To Choose The Right Company To Work For

You just left your job for “greener pastures.” Now what? As you contemplate your next move, consider changing your job search strategy. Try choosing the right company to work for instead of filtering your search by position and salary range. This approach gives you several benefits, all of which can contribute to your career’s long-term success.

First, by focusing on a company’s culture, you can immediately weed out those that do not align with your values. A workplace where you feel you belong helps you maximise your productivity. Remember to ask about a company’s culture and work environment during your job interviews.

Second, if you want to be passionate about your work, you will need an inspiring leader to guide you. How you evaluate a company’s leadership style can help you work to your full potential.

Finally, if you learn about a company’s clients ahead of your interview, you can determine how you can maximise your skills. You can then present your strengths better when you meet your potential employer.

Take time to reflect on your career transition. The following questions can help you narrow your search down to the companies that are best suited for you.

1. How do you like to spend a typical workday?

Does your ideal workday have flexible hours with remote options? Do you prefer being on the sales floor? Are you an extrovert who enjoys client-facing tasks? It is important to know what you are comfortable doing. Be specific and honest.

Landing a job at a company where you enjoy every day will raise your productivity. Across all industries, three work tenets remain constant. A company that will motivate you to do all three should go on your shortlist.

• Monotask. All multitasking does is divide your attention. When you focus on one task at a time, you make fewer errors. You also give yourself enough time to be creative and become a more effective problem solver.
• Be accountable. You can combat procrastination if you keep track of your responsibilities. Have a to-do list to help you monitor your tasks.
• Master time management. Give each assignment enough attention and time. Always let discipline control your workday.  

2. Does the company value work-life balance? 

Cast a net over companies that have a reputation for having happy employees. These organisations are the ones that will acknowledge your life outside of work. More than that, the employers in these companies will make it a priority to encourage you to lead a well-balanced life.

According to a study done by data platform Comparably, the happiest employees in 2021 worked in Adobe. The study found that across all the departments, employees said their work environment was supportive and rewarding. Demonstrating this, during the pandemic, Adobe began to implement several changes that ensured their people felt valued. Today, there are monthly company-wide days off, flexible work schedules, and wellness reimbursement at $600 per year. Workers who are directly impacted by significant and calamitous events (such as the pandemic) are entitled to 20 new paid days off each year.

Find a company that values you as a person and you may find your source of fulfillment and income.

3. What kind of leadership style do you respect?

An equally important question: how can a leader motivate you to reach your full potential?

Fatma Sonmez and Zafer Adiguzel write about the importance of effective leadership in their research paper published in Sage Journals. They found that good leadership in a company can positively influence work and overall firm performance. The paper describes the actions of an effective leader as “self-sacrificial work that will bring great benefits to the leader’s organisation.” These actions, say Sonmez and Adiguzel, make work meaningful to a leader’s subordinates and reinforce their commitment to the company.  

Do you look up to a leader who makes sacrifices for the greater good? What other leadership characteristics do you look for in your future boss?

4. What are you passionate about?

Approach this wide-reaching question methodically to make it easier to answer. Draw up three columns. In one, write what motivates you. In another, list down your strengths; include hard and soft skills. And in the third, enumerate your personal and professional interests.

Doing this helps you narrow down your company choice according to industry and specialisation. If you find that working with numbers excites you, perhaps you can find a job as a finance executive. Are your strengths in line with teaching? Apply with a company in the education sector. Does writing keep you up at night, thinking of just the right words to use for an article? There are several companies currently looking for writers and editors. If your interests lie in information technology, IT companies offer high growth and competitive benefits.   

5. Will the company give you opportunities for upskilling?

Even when you land a job in your dream company, it pays to consistently work on your skills. This way, when opportunities for a promotion come up, you will be ready. This is why it is important to choose a company that offers plenty of ways for its employees to learn new skills.

There are several approaches a company can take to champion your upskilling efforts. While researching prospective companies, check if they do any of the following:

• Provide a mentoring system for new (and old) employees looking to learn something new. A strong support system in the workplace tremendously helps push your professional growth.
• Invest in employees’ professional training sessions. Giving you access to a wide range of resources for self-improvement should be a priority for all companies. If you are up-to-date with the industry’s new practices, then that gives the company a competitive edge. 
• Develop employees’ transferrable skills.  A company can help you learn how to work in departments other than your own if you are interested to do so. Learning these skills raises your value. It also ensures an easier transition if you ever decide to do a career shift. 

6. What are your career goals?

Where do you see yourself in five years? How about in 10? The company you pick next will help determine your career development. Having clear career goals is necessary if you want to be successful. It will remove any detours and distractions along your way. 

The right goals can shape your personal life, as well. It will motivate you to practice self-discipline to achieve work-life balance. You can begin surrounding yourself with people who support your ambitions. Having goals can also influence the kind of media resources you take in. It raises your self-esteem, increases job satisfaction, and lets you live more mindfully. 

Choosing the right company to work for requires a considerable amount of self-awareness. You have to make sure that the next organisation you apply to shares your values. Find a company where you feel motivated to work every day. Work with a leader who inspires you to reach your full potential.

You can find a wide range of right companies to choose from when you log into your JobStreet account. If you would like career advice from experts in your chosen field, visit JobStreet’s Career Resources Hub. Get easier access to JobStreet’s list of opportunities and tips via the JobStreet app, available on the App Store and Google Play.