Communications of the ACM
Five Things to Consider Before Applying for a Job
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While your technical skills and experiences lend themselves to certain types of jobs, they aren't the only things to consider when applying for a new position. Job satisfaction in a new position goes beyond simply being able to utilize your skills each day. You also need to consider who you'll be working with, what the company is like, and whether you'll be happy in the job, should you land it. There are several key aspects of a new job that a worker needs to consider before applying, such as the type of management style within the work environment, the overall corporate culture, the company's stability, and the overall work-life balance.
How well you thrive in a work environment depends on how you're managed on a day-to-day basis. Do you need a manager who allows you to work independently? Or do you prefer someone checking in with you on a daily basis? If you'll be working remotely most of the time, are you able to successfully self-manage? The second major factor is corporate culture. What is the office environment like? What values are important to the company? Do you agree with them? How do they affect the day-to-day environment at the organization? You can investigate these aspects of an organization by visiting its website or social media sites.
Another aspect of the culture is the leadership. Do you admire and respect the top management at the organization? Do they make you want to work there? There are also many things you can learn about your work style from discovering your personality type, such as whether you require a quiet working environment or a bustling environment with more distractions. When it comes to work/life balance, consider whether you will be working significantly more hours than you did at your last job. What will your commute to this new job be like? Will the new position require frequent business traveling or overtime hours? These factors can affect your home life and may introduce more stress if you don't consider them before applying. Finally, in this economy, it never hurts to dig a little deeper on company growth and financial stability. This can help you determine whether or not you'll be looking for a new job in the near future, due to the company cutting back its workforce or shutting down altogether.
From Mashable
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