TheCareerGrid

Looking for a new job can be daunting, stressful and confusing.

If you’re anything like me, you might get nervous about leaving one role for another and wondering whether you may regret leaving; especially when you have invested a lot of skills into your current workplace and are feeling the comfort.

I spend a lot of time talking to people about searching for their next role.

The common topics people want to discuss are; what should I put on my resume, how do I write a good application, how can I prepare for interview and ensure I put my best foot forward.

While these are all very important in seeking and securing your next opportunity, I always ensure that we take time to discuss the importance of understanding what YOU actually want from your next role.

So then, what should you look for in your next role (company edition).

The short answer is, this depends on you, and its very personal. It’s important to find a workplace that aligns with your values, priorities, needs & wants.

The long answer is, think of the basics and know what you want from them.

Here are some things I might look for when searching for my next role:

• Culture: An obvious one that’s actually tricky. Yes, I want to work in a place with a good culture. However, you might (or might not) be surprised at how bad some recruiters or hiring managers are at articulating this. This can be a huge red flag, and totally derail your new job journey, so invest time in understanding what you are looking for. That way it will be easier to ask questions and understand if it’s a good fit.
• Work-life balance: This is a non-negotiable for me, and work-life balance means a hundred different things to a hundred different people. You need to listen out to the response carefully, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

• Development: Another non-negotiable. It doesn’t always mean promotion. To me this is about how the workplace will support my learning, motivate me, and inspire me to grow so that I can give you my best work.

• Salary: I need to know I can enjoy work and pay the bills, but also that I am am receiving what I am worth. Do your research. 

• Management Style: You should almost always be interviewed by the current manager (few jobs will be an exception) at one stage of the process, unless there is a good reason they are not available. I would speak to them directly to see what their style is like, but also look out for signs to know what they really might be like. Very few people will straight out say ‘I’m a nightmare’. If it doesn’t align it doesn’t necessarily mean they are a bad manager, just that its not a good fit for you.

• Physical Work Environment: A mix of must haves and nice to haves. If I need to be in the office, it needs to be close to home. What also comes to mind is what’s available in the physical environment, is it a hybrid working style, is there a nice lunch room, are there things to do nearby, do they respect reasonable adjustments, do they invest in their spaces etc.

• Innovation & Creativity: I like to think of myself as a creative professional, so I am looking for a workplace that is open to this. How have you innovated your process(es) over the last few years, what are the boundaries for thinking outside the box, what’s the approval processes for trying something new, are you open to trial and error, how have you integrated AI, etc. 

You won’t get most of this from a job advert, so you need to tap into different avenues. Call the contact person, talk to people who work there, look the business up online, search through LinkedIn. Then decide whether you want to apply for the role for an opportunity to ask specific questions at interview. Doing your research will likely assist with your application, so it’s a win-win in my books!

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