How to choose my future employer?

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A job is so much more than just a title and duties. You might have many questions, and it can seem tricky to even think about where to start.

The following tips will help you dig the market, prioritize your job search, and find the perfect job match to keep your career moving onward and upward.

Industry

Choosing an industry can be the perfect starting point. For example, if you're an accountant with a background in education, you can begin with the financial field and find companies within that industry.

Team Culture

First, ask yourself what environment you'd like to work in the most. Or what type of company climate makes you the most productive? You can observe the people and the vibe of that workplace (social media, podcasts, and events can help) and see if they match your idea of a conducive working environment.

Development Opportunities

When making a career change, a growth-friendly environment becomes crucial. Join a company that can provide you with meaningful opportunities for professional growth. These opportunities can be promotions, skills development and training programs, lateral transfers, and other ways your talent can be nurtured. Still trying to figure out how to discover it? Look for success stories.

A Sense of Purpose

Intuitively, we all know what it feels like to work with purpose. Today, more than ever, employees look for an overarching sense of meaning and what genuinely matters in their work life. Even more so, they are more likely to see work as their life calling. We are all looking for daily tasks that could make a difference or want to be associated with a community that is a force for good. Indeed, the role work plays can become a powerful incentive to keep going to work every day when you can clearly see that your presence is worthwhile. Thus, search for your authentic organizational purpose.

Size

Are you comfortable working with 10 or 100 people? Smaller companies can have that laid-back atmosphere vis-a-vis the formal air of larger organizations. Big companies may provide a bigger team of specialists in the same field, while startups may offer more opportunities to acquire new skills or shine. When choosing to work for a big or small company, think about its impact on your career growth and future.

Competition

Well-known organizations will always have a high flow of candidates. That doesn't mean that, due to such reason, you have to give up your wish to join them. It only naturally demonstrates that it is worth having lesser-known organizations on your future employers' wishlist. In fact, such companies may even value you more, and they most likely compete less with each other.

Do Your Research

Be sure to research companies to understand their corporate history. Go through their website(s) and read up on past CEOs and what they did to improve their company's standing. Explore current information by reading interviews conducted with senior-level management or press releases published by the company. Then go to material from conferences, podcasts, LinkedIn comments, and other material you can find to feel what employees are speaking. Compare this information. This way, you can confirm if this is a company you'd like to work for.