You’ve applied for a job and have an interview lined up – the job seems perfect on paper, but do you have mixed feelings of excitement and concern as to whether the job is right for you? Don’t worry, this isn’t an uncommon feeling!
How can you tell whether a job is a good fit? When a job meshes with both your personal life and professional aspirations, it is probably as close to a perfect match as you can get! If you are job searching with the help of a reputable recruiting agency, you shouldn’t have any reservations when it comes to signing that dotted line. At 3Search we pride ourselves on delivering the best experience to all our candidates and take time to make sure that we find a role that fits you and your lifestyle!
So, when job hunting, here are a few questions you should ask yourself and talk to your recruitment consultant about when deciding whether the job is right for you.
- Is the position interesting enough?
Whether you will have job satisfaction is arguably the most important thing you need to consider. Just because you can physically do the work, doesn’t mean you’ll be engaged while doing it. You might be a whiz at the tasks, but if the work will make you slightly crazy, it might not be the right role for you. Maybe take a step back – consider whether you see yourself enjoying the daily activities for a long period of time. If you think in a few weeks you will find your responsibilities tedious and – quite frankly – boring, maybe you should reconsider.
If you’re excited and enthusiastic about a new project you’re set to work on, then you might have found your dream job!
A lot of us have been in the situation where we have a recurring case of Sunday night blues, meaning we dread going back to work every week. This type of job anxiety isn’t particularly healthy and something you probably want to avoid when you are looking for your new role.
Each step you take in your career journey will challenge you in new ways – and this is a good thing – it is likely what will keep you engaged and motivated!
Be sure to have an open, honest discussion with the recruiter helping you in the process. They will have both yours and the hiring manager’s best interest at heart and they’re the experts! They’ll know more about the company than you!
- Does it check the basic boxes?
The details like working hours, commute, salary, job title and benefits are all super important and likely the initial determining factor for whether you will even consider the job. If you need a certain salary or need to work from home on a Friday, taking a job that doesn’t meet your expectations is probably not a good move.
Even a job that sounds perfect in most aspects can fall short if you are unhappy with your level of compensation. You need to be aware of the level of income and benefits you need, want and, of course, deserve! The location of a job is also a major priority for so many people, you may want to be near your family and friends or simply won’t even consider a long commute.
Checking all these factors suit you is a must before signing yourself up for a permanent role! Working with 3Search recruiters is one of the easiest ways to ensure these boxes are ticked, you can not only tell them your needs and aspirations but they will know about your industry and be able to give you an idea of what you should be aiming for.
- Will I like the company culture?
Are you a person who loves eating lunch alone so you can catch up on the news or are you a social butterfly who loves to socialise every chance you get? Depending on the answer to this question will likely determine what sort of company culture you go for.
Company culture is a big deal, it is one of the main ways a company will distinguish itself from its competitors. So, before you get lured into a new job because of the ping-pong tables and beanbag chairs, you need to figure out if the culture is going to be one that will actually make you happy and successful. Here at 3Search we focus a lot on company culture, providing a games room and a fully stocked drinks fridge!
Take some time to figure out what the company culture is like, and then choose if it’s the right environment for you. It is important to remember what motivates you, what makes you happy and whether it actually fits your lifestyle. You will be spending a lot of your waking hours at that office, so it’s important that you can actually see yourself there.
- Does it fit your long-term goal?
If you’re job hunting, you’ve probably taken time to think about what your career goals are. For many people, career progression in their chosen field is really important, so you might want to determine how and when a promotion may be on the line and what exactly that looks like.
Where you want to be in a few years’ time will be a huge decider on whether or not you accept a job offer. Are you looking to better your resume with big-name employers? Or are you looking at stepping into a management role? If you are looking to progress, you may need to look for a company with a lot of opportunities for growth but if you’re looking for big names, working for a company like Apple or ASOS is probably of interest. So, consider your goals, and then decide whether the new job aligns with them.
At the end of the day, a job might have it all on paper, but if you feel that something is wrong, have a chat with your consultant – again, they’ll know a lot about the ins and outs of the company, so will be able to advise you accordingly.
Similarly, if the role doesn’t tick every box but you’re still interested, maybe give it some serious consideration. Each new role you take in your career journey will challenge you in new ways, and this is a good thing! It is likely the thing that will keep you most engaged and motivated.
There is no perfect formula for deciding whether a job is right for you, but there are ways of looking at it that can make your decision slightly easier!
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3Search is an award-winning UK recruitment consultancy, specialising in marketing, digital and creative tech positions. Whether you’re seeking new talent or looking for your next career move, we can help. Learn more at 3Search.co.uk.
