10 Oct The Number One Rule You Should Follow When Searching For Your Next Career Opportunity

How we’ve been operating so far

I’m so glad I learned this in my early twenties and not later on in my career. Once graduated from college, many people accept job offers right off the bat based on pay, maybe the title, the prestige of the company, or out of pure desperation (I’m poor, hire me please!). They evaluate the positions objectively based on characteristics that in the long run don’t count as much. I was attracted to these types of assets and didn’t realize I wasn’t evaluating the jobs I was applying for based on what would truly make me happy. 

It’s not unusual, nowadays we’re constantly searching for the “perfect job”, the one that will make us feel happy and satisfied, and not like we have to drag ourselves out of bed and into a desk from 9 to 5 every morning. We’re so in love with the notion of realizing our life’s mission, we look far and wide for jobs that will hopefully help us find our calling.

The concept of your “calling” is widespread across the corporate world. Lots of companies praise the concept of purpose — to find yourself within your position and everyday work. But what companies don’t realize is the impact of the majority-millennial workforce approaching at full speed, that’s revolutionizing business environments and expectations. According to statistics, by 2025 75% of the workforce will be made up of millennials.

The business environment today

The millennial generation has hugely impacted business today, and millennials don’t find purpose within their work, they strive to work with purpose — to answer questions such as “why do I do what I do? Or more precisely, why do I do the work that occupies most of my waking hours for the rest of my entire adult life?”. It’s not about finding yourself, it’s about realizing your full potential within a positive environment.

Millennials are demanding more flexible environments, fueled by collaborative work, enabled by the latest technology, inspired by emotionally intelligent leadership, enriched by diversity and inclusion policies, and empowered by a vision prioritizing innovation and agility as the main drivers for business competitiveness. Here’s a detailed Deloitte report on how a millennial-majority workforce is changing business culture forever. Most millennials favor a high quality of life, which includes work-life balance, and the chance for remote work. In fact, many people of this generation are willing to leave a job they like for a lesser paying position that has better non-financial benefits more in line with their values.

Here’s the one rule you should abide by when choosing the right position

So here’s the secret, if you’re currently unemployed, a fresh graduate, or simply scanning other job listings for a new opportunity, pick your new employer based on its company culture and how it fits with your values.

It’s really about understanding what you want out of your working environment in order for it to be more pleasurable and productive. Do you thrive in open, collaborative environments? Join a team that values collaboration and inclusion. Do you believe a company should have a positive impact on its community? Then work for an organization that practices corporate social responsibility. Are you a new mother and wish to find a company that supports working moms? Then ask if an employer has a mom-friendly approach to work.

Seriously, it could be the highest-paying, most prestigious company ever, but if you’re working in a position that doesn’t align with your beliefs, you’ll end up being miserable.

How to assess a company’s culture and values

Gather some intel by looking up the company’s mission and values on its career site, employee reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed, and make sure to ask the right questions once you land an interview. The Muse came up with 15 questions to help you decode an organization’s culture, such as:

• What makes you proud to work at this company?
• How does the organization support your professional development and career growth?
• What causes conflict, and how is conflict resolved?
• How do you as a manager—or, if more appropriate, how does your manager—support and motivate your team?

These are all good questions to help you understand how a company or team celebrates successes, handles failures, takes calculated risks, and supports their employees’ development and growth. Before accepting an offer, it’s good to get a mele holistic view of the organization and what you’re getting yourself into.

Conclusion

Take some time to assess and jot down what’s important to you and plan some questions to uncover an employer’s company culture and policies on those values.

Remember, you’ll be spending a lot of your time in the office or at work, so make sure it’s the right fit!