9 things to consider when looking for a job

When looking for a new job, there are plenty of different factors for you to consider.

Thinking about what’s important to you, what you’re willing to compromise on and the future impact it’ll have in terms of progression, happiness, balance etc. is so important in finding a role that suits both your personality and career goals.

While everyone is different and will have different priorities, in no particular order, here are 9 key things to consider when looking for a job:

Location/Flexibility

If the job requires you to be in the office/on site, think about how this impacts the length of your workday. Will you be traveling at peak times in busy areas? Is there the opportunity to work from home on certain days or full-time?

Likewise, the cost of your commute should be a factor when comparing salaries from different companies. Fuel and parking costs can eat away at your take-home pay.

Working Hours

Make sure you’re aware of the hours you’re expected to work in a “normal” week as well as if you’ll be required outside of these hours, for example on weekends. Once you have this information, consider how this fits in with your life and other commitments.

Salary

It’s important to understand your own budget and spending habits when considering the salary being offered. It’s also worthwhile doing a bit of research on similar salary ranges for the role to see if there’s an opportunity to negotiate on the starting salary.

Benefits

Every company will have a different benefits package and reviewing those of potential employers is a good opportunity to consider what’s important to you.

Are things like health insurance, a great pension scheme, extra holiday allowance non-negotiables for you when it comes to your benefits package?

Company Values

When looking into your potential future employer, look out for the information that highlights their values, mission and what they stand for.

Consider whether this aligns with your own values and if it’s somewhere you can see yourself working.

Role Responsibilities

Of course, you’ll want to find somewhere to work where you can perform the tasks required of you well and you enjoy doing it.

Look for opportunities that align with your strengths and motivations and whether it suits you based on your previous work experience and future aspirations.

Growth Opportunities

Is development and career growth important to you? If it is, find out all you can during your research about the progression opportunities that are available with the companies you’re looking into.

Do they offer a training programme? Is there evidence that current employees have moved up through the ranks?

If this is important, look out for roles that will help you move toward larger career goals.

Work-Life Balance

Striking a balance between work and the rest of your life is important, so consider what information you need about flexibility and working practices to make your decision on a prospective company.

We all have a number of commitments outside of our jobs that can be affected if we allow work to overrun them.

Work Environment

Because you will be spending a lot of time at work, make sure that the work environment is a good fit for you. Consider whether you like to work in an office or on-site alongside a team or if you‘re better suited to working remotely from home.

The last thing you want to do is take a job and quickly find out you’re in a place you don’t want to be.