1. Evaluate your current role
If you have reached a point where you’re actively applying for a new job, it might be worth taking some time to reflect on what you currently do. Use the SWOT method to analyse your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in your current role.
Doing this exercise will help you highlight the things you like and dislike about your current job, what serves you well and crucially, what the pros and cons are for remaining in your current job.
Using this method might also help you decide if you should explore new opportunities within your current company, or seek out an entirely new challenge in a new setting. Either way, evaluating where you stand will help you plan for where you want to go, and how to get there quickly.
2. Job description
Also known as a role profile, a job description is what broadly describes what you will be doing in your new job. Since full-time employees spend approximately 40 hours a week at work, knowing what your duties will entail is an important factor in deciding your next move.
It might be worth taking into account that whilst some jobs share the same title, the duties and responsibilities associated with the role could vary considerably. Therefore, be sure to do your research on what the role entails.
3. Company reputation
It might be tempting to work for a company that’s well known in your industry. But this alone shouldn’t be a deciding factor when applying for a new job. A company might have a reputation for being cutting edge in your industry. However, its people practices might not be that good.
It can be tempting to think that poor people practices might be tolerable even for a small period of time. However, you will need to balance this against any potential stress you may experience as a result of working in an unfriendly or stressful environment.
4. Company values
A critical factor when considering a new role is how the values of your potential employer align with yours. The reason for this is that working for a company is a lot more than the hours of work you put in every day.
Knowing that your prospective employer appreciates similar things to what you value, such as integrity, respect and inclusion, could assure you that this might be the right place for you.
Other issues to consider are what a company’s approach is to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), minimising its carbon footprint and its core missions.
5. People policies
People policies are also known as HR policies. Whilst most companies don’t necessarily make their HR policies available, some of the key ones that may impact on you as a future employee may be outlined on the ‘careers’ section of a company’s website. These might include the company’s approach to staff development or flexible working.
6. Location
Location is something that’s tied very closely to what you consider to be the right work-life balance for you. Some key questions you need to ask yourself to determine where the boundaries are, include:
- How long am I prepared to commute every day for this new job?
- What does this mean for the other areas of my life?
There’s no point in securing your ideal job opportunity if the rest of your life is going to suffer as a result of it.
Think carefully about the location of your new job and consider if you’re willing to change where you live for this opportunity.
Another issue to consider is the impact of longer commutes themselves and your chosen transport method. Driving might be more stressful long-term than catching a bus or a train, so do factor this into your plans for a securing a new job.
How to negotiate a job offer effectively
7. Salary
It’s advisable to view salary as part of a package with all the other factors. A good starting point would be determining what you need each month to cover your expenses because there’s little point taking up a job opportunity that you enjoy if you’re going to struggle financially.
Equally, you wouldn’t want to feel ‘stuck’ in a job that paid the bills but make you feel unfulfilled or struggling with your work-life balance. So, approach this from a holistic perspective, and be sure to find the right balance.
8. Company benefits
Different companies offer different types of benefits, with some offering the option to participate in private healthcare cover or in a salary sacrifice scheme to receive childcare vouchers. Other companies secure various discounts in multiple retail outlets for their staff.
The value you place on these benefits and if they act as an incentive very much depends on where you are in your life and what you consider your priorities to be.
9. Your new team
Being part of a new team is quite daunting, especially at the very beginning when you’re still starting out in a new organisation. And this factor goes hand in hand with the type of organisational culture that’s prominent in the company.
You might get to meet some of your potential team members at the interview or assessment centre. So, this might help you decide if the team culture is right for you.
10. The company sector
Broadly speaking, companies fall into either the private, public or voluntary sectors. Each one of these requires specific skills and experiences that would enable you to secure a future role. There are of course some transferable skills. However, most companies or organisations require a certain level of understanding on how they operate and the context which they operate within.
If you’re considering moving into a sector that’s new to you, your first step might be to do your research on the organisational context and reaching out to the recruiting team to discuss the job opportunity with them. This might help you decide if this is the right move for you and provide some ideas on how to strengthen your application and personal statement.
Get applying for a new job
So, now that you have read through an overview of the 10 things to consider before applying for a new role, we hope that this can help you to make informed decisions about securing your dream job.
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About the author: Niema Bohrayba is a Chartered HR Professional specialising in Inclusion, learning and career development. She has over 12 years’ experience working at operational, strategic and national levels. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, herb gardening and star gazing.
