How to Know if a Company is Right for You

Newsroom By Western Union Global Social Dec 16, 2016

When you’re interviewing for a job, you’re interviewing the company as much as they’re interviewing you. It’s important to observe your potential work environment and inquire during your interview process about what it will be like to work there every day. Western Union (WU) has listed some techniques you can use to help you figure out if a company is right for you in the long run.

Carefully Read the Job Notice

The job notice is often your first introduction to a company, and can reveal a lot about how a company works and what its expectations are of its employees. Read it carefully. Is it professionally written? Are there multiple misspelled words? Does the company talk about what it offers its employees, or is the notice simply a laundry list of requirements employees must adhere to? A solid, well-managed company will be looking to recruit and retain the best talent, so keep an eye out for the wording of the notice to make sure that the company cares about more than just the bottom line.

Make Connections with Current or Past Employees

Reach out to your network and on social media and see if you can connect with any past or current employees of a company. It’s important not to come on too strong, but rather just explain that you’re researching companies and are just looking for opinions. You never know, if you strike up a rapport with a current or past employee, you might end up with a referral! 

Putting in the hours will be worth it in the end

Do Your Research

With the internet at most everyone’s fingertips, there’s no excuse for not doing your research on a company before interviewing. Look up the company on review sites like Glassdoor to get a feel for the corporate culture before going in. Consider both the positive and negative reviews.

Ask the Right Questions

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in trying to pitch yourself and your skills that you forget to ask the company questions to see if it’s the right fit for you. Be sure to ask interviewers about themselves and why they chose to work at the company. Ask what his or her favorite things are about the company, and what could use improvement. It’s also vital to ask about the company culture and what the company’s values are to make sure they match up with your own. If the company’s values aren’t in line with yours, you’ll be saving yourself and the company a lot of heartache by looking elsewhere for employment.

Take Note of How You’re Treated

During the interview process, a company should be trying to recruit you. If the interviewer keeps you waiting for a long time without explanation, is rude or condescending, or you don’t feel like you’re being respected during the process, don’t hesitate to look for other opportunities. How you’re treated during the interview process offers a solid glimpse into how you’ll be treated on the job. Make sure that the interviewers respect you and your time and do their best to make you feel comfortable and welcomed.

Businesspeople gathering at water cooler

Observe the Workplace

When you’re spending time at a company, be sure to observe the workers around you and take note of their mood and behavior. Does the office feel tense, or light and easygoing? Do people seem happy and relaxed, or stressed and anxious? How do people interact with each other? Does the work environment feel like a place that you’d like to spend many hours of your life in?

Your Role is Clearly Defined

You have a better chance of a company being the right fit for you if your potential job duties match up well to your experience. If during the interview, the employer mentions duties that don’t fall into a skillset that you have or are willing to learn, or the job entails things you don’t feel comfortable with, then it’s best to walk away. It’s a bad idea to step into a situation where you don’t know or feel comfortable with what your everyday duties will be.

Making sure that companies you work with are the right fit for you is key to having a healthy and happy work life. Do you have any other suggestions on how to figure out if a company is a good fit? Share your ideas in the comments!