Is The Job Right For You? How To Evaluate A New Job

Questions to help you decide if a new job or career is right for you

Evaluating an opportunity isn’t easy. Even the most interesting jobs have hum-drum aspects. These are a few things to help you evaluate a new job before making a change, whether you’re taking a new position or completely changing careers.

Does the organization’s business or activity align with your interests and values?

It is easier to give 100% to the job if you are enthusiastic about what the organization does.

How will the size of the organization affect you? Whether large or small the size of the company often directly affects you.

One of the benefits of working for a large firm can be a greater variety of training programs and career paths, more managerial levels for advancement, and better employee benefits than those offered at small firms. They also may have more advanced technologies. The downside is that, many jobs in large firms tend to be highly specialized.

One of the benefits of working for a small firm is often more autonomy and responsibility, a closer working relationship with top management, and a chance to clearly see your contribution to the success of the organization.

Should you work for a relatively new company or a well established one?

Working for a new business can be exciting. However, new businesses have a high failure rate. Still helping to create a company and the potential for sharing in its success more than offset the risk of job loss. However, it may be just as exciting and rewarding to work for a young firm that already has a foothold on success.

Does the job match your interests and allow you to use your skills?

Even if you love the company and your coworkers, you’ll be unhappy if you don’t like the day-to-day duties. While determining in advance whether you will like the work may be difficult, the more you find out about the work the more likely you are to make the right decision when accepting or rejecting the offer. Make sure the day-to-day responsibilities are explained in enough detail during the interview process.

How important is the job to the company or organization?

Finding out where you fit in the organization and how you will be contributing to the company’s overall goals should give you an idea of the job’s importance.

What are the hours?

Most jobs involve regular hours during a typical workweek; other jobs require night, weekend, or holiday work. Some jobs routinely require overtime to meet deadlines or sales or production goals, or to better serve customers. Consider how the job’s work hours will effect your personal life.

How long do most people who enter this job stay with the company?

This can be tricky. High turnover can mean employee dissatisfaction with the work or the company. However, long-term employment can also signal complacency. Look around when you’re interviewing, do people look happy there?

What opportunities does the company offer?

A good job offers you opportunities to learn new skills, increase your earnings, and rise to positions of greater authority, responsibility, and prestige. A lack of opportunities can dampen interest in the work and result in frustration and boredom. Look for companies that have a career path and a training program for you. Find out was new skills the company plans to teach you.

Is there advancement?

The employer should give you some idea of promotion possibilities within the organization. What is the next step on the career ladder? If you have to wait for a job to become vacant before you can be promoted, how long does this usually take? When opportunities for advancement do arise, will you compete with applicants from outside the company? Can you apply for jobs for which you qualify elsewhere within the organization, or is mobility within the firm limited?