What to Look For in Your Next Company: Find the Place Just Right For You
So you've decided that you will leave your current employer. Perhaps you've found it lacking in opportunity or in the way it treats you and other employees. Maybe you've learned as much as you can, and feel the need to move on. Now that you've got more experience under your belt, consider a more comprehensive checklist as you search for the perfect job in the perfect company.
Most people have a few requirements in mind - a good job, good pay and good benefits. But there's a lot more to a good place to work than those basic qualities, and many people discover that the hard way.
Just as companies will scrutinize you as a candidate to help them succeed, you too need to scrutinize them as a good place to entrust yourself and your career to. So you will want to ask a lot of good questions. (What many job applicants don't realize is that when they ask great questions about the company, they are actually selling themselves at the same time.)
Here's a check list to consult as you consider possible next employers. Use it to determine which companies that you are considering have these qualities, because the company that scores the highest on this checklist will likely be the best place for you to invest your time and energy.
1) UNDERLYING STRENGTHS: In these troubling economic times, you want to make sure that you're talking to a solid company - one that can weather the normal ups and downs. If it's a public company, you can read the analyses. You can also look at its history. Has it weathered economic storms and competition before? How has it fared during those downturns? Did it just circle the wagons, or did it take creative steps to succeed, like shoring up customer loyalty and/or calling on employees to work with management to develop and implement new strategies?
2) An Inspiring PURPOSE: What's the mission of this company? Do you resonate with it? Is it merely to maximize shareholder value, or is there more? Companies that have a strong sense of Larger Purpose can be exciting and meaningful places to work. When you ask people you're interviewing why they came to the company or what gets them excited Monday mornings, listen carefully to see whether anyone speaks about the purpose of the company.
3) High VALUES: If you care about ethical behavior and want to be trusted, respected and honored, find out the answers to these questions: When all is said and done, what does this company stand for? What will they never do? What do they do when times are tough? Ask people what the company's most important values are - and for examples of corporate decisions or stories that illustrate how they walk the talk regarding values.
4) A great CULTURE: Get a feel for what kinds of human behavior are encouraged and valued in the company. How do people treat each other? How does management treat employees - and customers for that matter? Ask people in what ways this company differs from others in terms of its culture. Get examples of this also.
5) GROWTH: Many companies espouse growth - corporate growth (of revenues and profits). But does this company also commit to fostering employee growth? Furthermore, when they talk about employee growth, is it just about the traditional development of knowledge and job skills, or is it also deeper - like personal growth and leadership development?
6) The PEOPLE: Unless you will be stuck in a back room doing a job with no people contact, you will find that the kinds of people that you will be working with day in and day out will become an important ingredient in your experience at the company. Take a look at every person you meet at the company - right from when you walk in the lobby. Are they the kinds of people you like to be with and work with? Are they friendly, positive people? Is there a strong sense of community in which people respect and genuinely like each other?
7) The LEADER(S): Is the CEO of this company an inspiring person? Ask those you interview. What about the managers you will be working for or with - what kind of people are they? Ask your potential boss what her management style is. Once again, for purposes of learning what they mean by terms like "employee involvement" etc., ask for an example or two. Also ask what her vision is for her department (or company). Is it one that you relate to - or just "company speak"? If you relate well to the boss and to her vision and goals, that's a great leading positive indicator that this could be a great job for you.
You will want to do your own "due diligence" to verify that what you are hearing is accurate. Here are a few ways to do that:
- Do an Internet search on the company - and see what others are saying about the company.
- Ask if they regularly conduct an employee survey, and, if they do, ask what the results are - and how they use those surveys.
- Ask your potential boss why he joined the company - and why he is still there.
- Ask everyone you meet a) what they like best about the company and b) if they had one complaint what it would be. As they answer, not only listen to their words, but watch their energy. Do they get excited about what they like about the company, or is it just a rote answer? If the latter, that's not a very strong recommendation for the company.
- If you get serious enough about the Company and they make you a job offer (and you have some doubts), you might ask to spend a half day floating around the department where you will be working just to get a better feel for what it will be like working there. When you've finished that time at your potential new office, not only recall what you observed, but see how you feel. Your emotions can be an accurate indicator of whether this is the place for you.
After you've used this check list, you'll have a pretty good idea where each company you're talking to ranks. Companies that score high on all these characteristics are Noble Enterprises. As such, they attract great people - like yourself - and turn them into a great team, inspiring them and drawing out their best for the benefit of the company and for the individuals involved. Even if it seems like a difficult search, know that there are great companies out there - of all sizes. When you find one, with this list, you'll know it. Then you can give thanks and sign on!
Darwin Gillett is author of NOBLE ENTERPRISE: The Commonsense Guide to Uplifting People and Profits, from which this article is adapted. Through his consulting, coaching, keynotes and seminars, he helps business executives create competitive advantage and achieve sustainable growth and profitability. To learn about his publications and services, visit Noble Business Solutions.
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