Below we discuss the key steps you need to take to help you decide if a job is a right fit for you.
List what you want in a job
Before embarking on your job hunt, it’s important to have a solid idea of what you want. Don’t just think about your ‘dream job title’ here. You need to look at the job descriptions and consider the type of work you want to do every day.
For example, if writing is your forte, look for positions where this is a main part of the job and where you will be able to apply your skills. On the other hand, if the prospect of spending hours on Microsoft Word doesn’t appeal to you, keep an eye out for this during your search and avoid applying for jobs where the day-to-day responsibilities are off-putting.
Alongside this, think about your ideal salary and how far you’re willing to travel to work. Money is often people’s main driver during the job hunt, but make sure you’re realistic with what you’re expecting. Similarly, if a job is offering high pay, but you need to travel over 90 minutes to work every day, you may want to consider what your essential requirements are.
Finally, think about the career progression you want to achieve over the next three to five years. Is the position going to aid you or hold you back? While it’s scary to think so far in the future, if these opportunities are important to you, you shouldn’t neglect your future prospects.
Once you’ve made this list, you will have a better idea of what’s most important to you and whether there are any areas which you are willing to compromise on!
Research the company
Another key factor to consider before hitting the ‘apply’ button is what the company is actually like to work for. Sadly, not all companies have the respect for their employees that they should do. For many, the thought of working under a poor management structure, or for a company with a bad reputation, is their worst nightmare. So, it’s important to do some serious research.
The company website is also worth a look at, but it’s vital that you take your search further than this.
When applying for jobs, make sure you search for any news stories about the company on Google, or for staff feedback on employee review websites. These will give you helpful insights into what the company is like to work for.
While you could overlook one bad experience, be careful of companies with lots of bad reviews. After all, employee happiness should be an employer’s top priority.
Ask the right questions
If your application is successful and they invite you in for an interview, this is a great opportunity to determine if the company is right for you and whether you are the right fit for the job.
While it’s extremely important to impress the recruiter, interviews should be a two-way dialogue. So use this time to find out what you’ll be doing on a daily basis. You can also ask about your potential team and learn more about the company.
Here, you should also refer back to your list of what you want from your next role. For example, if career development is important to you, you can ask about how the company approaches employee reviews and promotions.
Don’t forget to assess how they answer your questions. You can quickly glean whether someone is genuine or not, while also building up an understanding of whether they are interested in you.
Consider the challenges
If you’ve asked all the right questions during the interview, you should have a better idea of what will be expected of you and whether the role sounds like something you want to do.
Now, it’s time to really think about whether you can do the job. For example, do you truly have the skills and experience for the position?
You should never over exaggerate your experience or skills during your job search. After all, you don’t want an employer to catch you out. That said, if you don’t have the right skills, and they’ve offered you training to build upon them, this could be a great opportunity.
While this is a lot of think about, it is important. Especially as you don’t want to regret your decision to join.
Watch out for the warning signs
Finally, remember that you can judge a lot about a company from the way it treats its candidates throughout the recruitment process. While you don’t want to pass on any fantastic opportunities, if the company shows poor communication skills now, it’s definitely not a good sign for things to come.
Look out for misspelt job listings, poor grammar, spelling or a vague job description. Alongside this, not getting back to you in a timely manner, or not giving you enough notice to prepare for an interview effectively is inconsiderate and shows poor organisation skills. Generally, be wary of taking a role with a company that is inconsiderate in the early stages.
Is your job a good fit?
In summary, the job hunt is by no means easy. But these simple steps should help you out when deciding whether a company or role is right for you. If the job seemed to tick all the right boxes then go for it; it is a definite sign that you should apply for the job. If not, don’t worry! You can search for more jobs with CV-Library.
