Choosing the right employer is an interesting yet challenging task. But some parameters help in reaching the right selection.
Overall, the priority must be in finding an enriching workplace where you can fit in and find many shared values and goals. Companies will be in many sizes and have a variety of working environments with varied opportunities in terms of learning, leadership, and career growth.
The World Best Employer list of 2020 had an interesting methodology in selecting the winners. It relied more on employee feedback and surveyed more than 160,000 full-time and part-time workers from 58 countries.
The participants shared their opinions and rated their employers. They also evaluated other employers in their respective industries.
Participants were asked to rate the employers on the basis of image, financials, talent development, gender equality, and social responsibility. From 750 companies that made it to the final list, the top 20 are below.
Although the above-stated guidelines can pinpoint many good employers from a big crowd a new bee has to do more research.
In modern times job seekers are looking beyond brand fame and verify whether these companies have missions, goals, and programs to which they can latch on. Job aspirants mainly check the communication culture in a potential employer as an index of adaptability.
They want to see if systems exist to receive constant feedback and there are outlets for sharing observations and ideas by staffers. Also, supervisors are not mere idea shovels.
A new employee will not be ready for suffocation under the weight of dry routines, and static roles and want to work towards goals. They expect a good employer will give due recognition.
The flexibility of the workplace: Today’s professionals are more excited to work wherever they feel productive. According to a study by New York Times, the flexibility of the workplace attracts talent and increases output and quality. It notes many home-based employees are more productive than office workers. They are a happy lot too and that is helping companies to reduce voluntary termination.
Good mentoring: A good employer must have a bunch of good leaders who guide the vision throughout the organization. They engage talented employees and make them productive showing the goals they have to hit.
Team members will also have a culture that supports one another and no blame game happens. The environment also allows learning from mistakes with leadership support. If conflicts arise, employees address them amicably.
Also, employees get a reward for reaching milestones as accomplishments. An empowering environment without too much micromanagement and space for making decisions and move on with agility are what every job aspirant looking for.
A good employer will treat staff with civility and respect. They will not be unduly judgemental and offer opportunities to grow and develop expertise. A good workplace with a fair employer will be a great place to work passionately.
From a technical point of view, the leads to prioritize a perfect company or employer will be a top-down approach. It must start at the industry level.
Industry: It is better to select an industry that is a perfect starting point. For example, if the candidate is a writer with a background in academics or education, the educational field and the companies in it will be the best. This will balance the aptitude and industry expertise and pass on from company to company.
In case there is difficulty in focusing on companies peel the industry layer and zoom in the top to medium companies in that space.
Prepare a List: Develop a broad idea of the job you want that aligns with your skills and passion and is financially rewarding. So, compile a list of 10- 15 companies that you will be happy to work with. After creating the list, research those companies to understand their corporate history.
Visit their websites and read details about management, the contribution of CEOs in terms of making the company grow and standing. Look at the latest info by reading interviews with senior-level management or press releases. This will help confirm if this company is a good fit.
Salary factor: There are multinational corporations, medium-sized companies and start-ups. Larger firms will offer higher starting salaries, but the feeling of “just another cog in the machine” may exist. But a small company can give a higher sense of belonging but the anxiety of whether the business will sustain and a stable career and income will prevail can worry.
Beyond salary, aspects to consider in choosing a good employer are these elements.
Training: Training makes skills up to date and enhances productivity. Find out if there is any management training programme and what is the mode of delivery and frequency. This is crucial if the career choice involves giving professional exams.
Location: If the workplace is too far and entails considerable commuting it may upset family life, social life, leisure and other commitments. So define the region where you will work and how far commuting can go. Check out if the place needs driving around congested roads or relocation will become a compulsion.
Mission: Companies add people to their human resources who are passionate about their mission. So, during the job interview, an honest expression of how you can add more value to goals will be important.
For example, a candidate knowledgeable about real estate yet working in accounts can shine well if he is holding an accounting job at a real estate investment company. So, present as a self-starter and companies will count the person as an asset.
Study social media presence: Track the social media presence of companies and follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter and get updates and press coverage. Also, watch the videos on YouTube and glean insights into the company culture.
In a nutshell, a job aspirant must match a company’s culture to fit into a position that can be long-lasting, rewarding and sustainable.