
In an American survey, 2,500 young job seekers were interviewed. As many as 72 percent were surprised and regretted after accepting the new job. They felt that the job, or the company, was different from what had been described. Do you recognize yourself?
Much has been written about how the company should interview you as a candidate. But if you instead turn it around; is the company really right for you? In the best of worlds, recruitment is a process between two equals. But that is rarely the case. Instead, it easily becomes a “beauty contest” where the company wants to show you its best side, while at the same time you want to show as positive an image of yourself as possible.
Here are some suggestions so that you can better see if the job is right for you. Basically, it's about understanding in depth what the role entails, as well as whether your values, development opportunities and goals match. Here's how you can do it:
1. Analyze the job description. It gives you valuable information about both the company and the role. What will you be responsible for and how will your performance be measured? It helps you better understand how well your qualifications and experience fit in. Start with the company website and LinkedIn. Compare the profiles of other people in similar roles, their backgrounds and qualifications. It should give you an idea of the role in relation to your own skills. If you notice, for example, that the employees are significantly less experienced than you, perhaps the role is too junior for you. Or you might notice the opposite. Then you have to decide whether this is the right step for you. But don't let the job description fool you. Not everything is an accurate description of what the job actually entails. For example, what does "leading a complex project" mean? Is it a project full of conflicts and problems? Correspondingly, the title may sound nice, but what does "senior" project manager mean, for example? Much depends on how the company is organized and the size of the project.
2. Pay attention to the company culture. Even if companies work in the same industry, values and ways of behaving may differ. For example, how does the company communicate with you? How do you feel about email correspondence, telephone contacts or the interviews themselves? Do the contacts feel genuine and are they interested in you as a person? One piece of advice might be to try to talk to the receptionist or others passing by. Feel free to ask the hiring manager about how much support you get, the company culture, or how your managers communicate with each other. Feel free to ask about development opportunities and how success is measured.
3. Discuss salary and benefits. Do they match the market or the role? Talk to friends and people who work in the same industry and position. At the same time, this can be sensitive. You don't want to appear as if you are only interested in money. But you should also be aware of your own value and competence.
4. Be sure that the job corresponds to your long-term career goals. The decision to accept or decline should be guided by your interests, values and goals. Imagine where you want to be in two years. Do you want to work in the big company, or a smaller one? How do you want to be able to develop? There are no right or wrong answers here.
5. Do a thorough background check. Most companies contact your references. You should do the same. Articles, press releases, etc. can reveal a lot. Through LinkedIn and social media, you can get a feeling of their reputation. If the company is a start-up, you should check their financing and long-term solvency.
Sources:
Knowing when to quit, The Economist, July 20th, 2024.
Should you quit your job? Harvard Business Review, March-April 2023.
5 ways to figure out if a job is right for you. Harvard Business Review, September 23, 2022.
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