Most of us spend around 40 hours a week or more at work so it makes sense to be happy with all aspects of your job. That said, you very rarely get everything you want so when you are looking for a new job which aspects of that job are the most important.
We take a close look at the 5 most important things to look for in a new job and step you through what you need to ask yourself and your interviewer before you say yes to any new role.
Five Most Important Things To Look For In A New Job:
1. Money
One of the main reasons people start looking for a new job is the money. You may really like the job you are in, love the team you work with and find the location really handy but if the money does not cover your living expenses you need to find a role that does or get yourself a second job.
Simply looking for a role that pays better is not the answer. When you are considering a new role you need to think about the following things:
- Review your living expenses and understand what you need to earn to cover all your costs.
- Research the salary range in your industry and understand how much more you can honestly ask for. See our post on How To Research Salary Rates before A Job Interview.
- Make sure you are aware of all the other financial and non monetary benefits that could be available to you.
2. Location
No matter how incredible your job is, you will soon get sick of spending an hour or more each day in traffic trying to get to and from work. One very important thing to look for in a new job is a convenient location. Consider the following questions:
- How much time are you willing to spend travelling to and from work every day? Set a limit and stick to it.
- Once you know the distance, estimate how much petrol, parking and tolls will cost you each week and make sure the salary compensates for the expenses.
- Consider the impact it will have on your social life. If the location is far from home will you have time to get to the gym, catch up with friends etc.
3. Company Culture
One critical thing to try and understand before you look for a new job is the type of culture you prefer to work in. It can be hard to know what kind of culture a company has before you actually start working there, but there are some things you can do.
See our post on Sneaky Ways To Research A Company’s Culture Before You Start There. You should also be clear on the following:
- Do you prefer a small or a large company
- Relaxed vs formal structure
- Is management and your boss in particular inspiring?
- What kind of work/life balance are you happy to accept?
4. Room To Grow
Is is very important when you look for a new job to consider what experience you would like to gain and look for what promotional prospects any new company can offer you. Make sure you are clear on the items below before you accept any job offer:
- Make sure the company you are considering is stable, profitable, well established and has good growth prospects.
- Consider what opportunities they offer for promotion and advancement. You can ask them during the job interview what the expected career path is for the position you are applying for.
- Does the company meet your short term and medium term goals?
- What are their growth plans? This is a good question to explore during the interview.
5. Network Development
Although it is rarely the most important thing to look for in a new job, it is still smart to consider what impact the new role and company will have on your network. Networking is one of the main ways people actually get a new job so thinking about how a new company will grow your network will actually benefit you in the long run. Always remember:
- Never, ever burn any bridges in any role. See our post on How To Quit Your Job And Keep Your Network.
- Use LinkedIn to research key people within the new organisation you are considering and see who they are connected to.
I agree with money and company culture. They are important to make you want to go to your job everyday. The location is an aspect that you can’t always control. Maybe if everything else is really good, you accept a job even if the location isn’t perfect. Room to grow and personal development… I think these depend on you. If you want to evolve it will happen. Of course, this can be specified on your job description sheet. You can search through websites to see what career perspectives you have. I found this resource http://jobdescriptionswiki.com/ and I find it useful. You have to know what you’re supposed to do at your job. This can make you to accept a position or not
Hey, Addison! I’d also rethink the order of the list! 🙂 I believe money is important, but it shouldn’t come first on the list. Here’s why: If you’re located far from work, you’ll lose precious time.That time could be spent on a hobby, a new business idea, or your loved ones. “Location” would definitely be my first choice. Second should come “company culture”! Indeed, what if you’re getting into a very strict and formal company, but you’d rather have an informal or alternative working environment? Now, money should come last on the menu! I’d go with a few salary checkers like the ones mentioned above in “How To Research Salary Rates before a Job Interview” and set them side by side with my job description using jobdescriptionshub.com, the one mentioned by you or something that includes my current or preferred job title and then shoot for the starts. Everything is work in progress, as life itself is continuously shifting, so we better ask what is it that we want for ourselves before we ask what we want from a new job.