5 Crucial Steps to Find Out if a Company is Ideal for You

Amid the pandemic, global unemployment rates have risen in 2021 — but the same could be said for job openings. In fact, a recent 2021 Deloitte report revealed that the global market is suffering from a labour shortage, one that is an indirect consequence of changes in consumer and employee preferences in recent times. 

However, as vaccination rates increase across the globe, and with many states in Malaysia progressing under the National Recovery Plan (NRP), it appears that workers are set to return to offices — and employment. But if you’re a worker looking for a new job in the new normal, how do you find a company that is ideal for you? 

Whether you’re a grizzled, experienced professional, or you’re a fresh graduate looking for your first job, here are a couple of tips on how to find out if a prospective company is the right choice. ‍

1. First, get your priorities straight    

Before you even start to apply to companies, it’s important to assess where your priorities lie. Take some time to write down a couple of factors — keep it to a small number — that would dictate your choice of employer. 

For example, consider if salary is your top priority, or perhaps the work culture/environment. You’ll also want to consider if your lifestyle or personal commitments require you to have a flexible schedule at work — 2021 is seeing a rise in popularity in hybrid work models, after all. 

This also helps when creating a medium-to-long-term plan for your career, as you’ll be able to make a reasoned judgement whenever you look for your next job. 

Once you’ve narrowed these factors down to three, maybe four priorities, you’ll be able to have a clearer idea of what you want to do, where you want to do it, and who you want to do it for. ‍

2. Research, research, and… more research

Oftentimes, many of you might find yourself in the desirable (but difficult) situation where you have multiple options on the table. These companies might appear very similar in terms of benefits and package, and it can be difficult to make a tough decision — usually with a deadline hanging over your decision. 

Don’t make this choice on a whim, or based on an anecdote from a single data point (read: gossip). Instead, do some heavy research online on the companies in question. For example, there are websites that compile employee feedback on employers, while you can even find useful information in reviews on various forums and platforms. 

At the end of the day, you’ll still need to take a calculated risk when going for your next job. But the best thing you can do to mitigate that risk (of a bad choice) is to equip yourself with as much relevant information as you can. ‍

3. What kind of bosses do you want to work for? ‍

People leave managers, not companies. The saying is commonly used in the professional world, and for good reason — leaders make or break organisations. When interviewing for your next job, you should already be thinking about how it might be to work for your hiring manager, and if their leadership style suits you. 

Some employees operate better under leaders who are more authoritative, while others might thrive with more autonomy within the organisation. If you’re an experienced professional, you probably already know what works (or doesn’t work) for you. 

Meanwhile, fresh graduates and those newer to the workforce will be able to get an idea of a leadership style that works for them from internship, or even academic experiences. 

The gist of it: know what works for you.‍

4. What is the work culture like? 

Work culture plays a crucial role in employee happiness and productivity, as detailed in this Deloitte report. As such, do your best to find out about the workplace culture of your prospective employers — before you sign on the dotted line, that is. 

Take the opportunity during your interview process to ask your hiring manager and prospective colleagues/employers about the workplace culture. Remember: an interview isn’t simply for employers to assess employees, it works the other way round as well. Don’t make the mistake of simply answering questions about yourself during the interview.  

Instead, use this conversation to find out about things like work hours, flexible work arrangements, how the organisation is set up and run, and anything else you need to know. At the end of the day, you’ll be spending a lot of your waking hours in the (physical or virtual) office, so be sure to find a culture fit that works for you. ‍

5. Find somewhere with room to grow

Finally, look for companies that offer you the best career growth opportunities. Career growth may not necessarily be at the top of the priority list for everybody, but it’s always important to have room to grow; this applies to all aspects of life, not just your career.

When it comes to career growth, you should also understand that it isn’t always in the form of climbing up the corporate ladder. Instead, growth can also be achieved horizontally — by getting a breadth of exposure across different areas and disciplines. This is particularly relevant for fresh graduates, or even more experienced professionals who are looking for a career change.

Again, this is something that you can discuss during the interview process with your hiring manager. Ask them if you’ll be afforded the opportunity to try your hand at new things if/when working there, and if you’ll be given the chance to upskill on-the-job. 

Find out if the company provides its employees with the room — and incentive — to grow, and you might just find your next employers. ‍

altHR — making life easy for HR professionals and employees

At the end of the day, choosing the right company can be a difficult choice. And for employers, providing the right combination of workplace culture, employee engagement, and even salary can be a challenge — particularly in the new normal.

That’s where Digi’s super app, altHR, comes in. With an Onboarding module that helps employers engage new employees from the very first day by creating a successful onboarding journey, new hires can be taken through the usual onboarding processes — but virtually. 

The altHR onboarding journey includes sequential steps and access to articles and videos on the company, company culture, leadership, and other relevant information. This allows new hires to track their progress, and to be effectively onboarded at the end of the process. 

Meanwhile, admins are also able to generate reports of new hires, with information on these employees available before Day One. This can help with matters like security, or even to prepare equipment such as company-issued laptops.

Ultimately, it’s all about digitalisation. The world is going increasingly digital these days, and this trend is set to continue in the years to come. HR professionals are often faced with daunting, often tedious tasks on a daily basis — tasks that have become even more difficult to handle in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. 

But help is available, if you know where to look. Let us streamline your HR processes by managing and automating day-to-day tasks, so you won’t have to worry about things like paperwork, privacy concerns, time-tracking, or onboarding challenges.

Sign up for altHR, the all-in-one digital solution that covers everything from payroll and onboarding, to staff management and providing employees with information kits. You’ve done it the old way long enough.