Staffing in the Modern Business Climate
Everywhere you look you see help wanted signs. Stores, restaurants, factories, and commercial businesses are all shorthanded. This has created a work environment where wages are increasing and an employee’s perception of their job is crucial. Companies are expanding their benefits and trying to convince potential workers that the setting they offer is superior to their competitors. Although companies are making an effort to lure new employees, it is important to remember that finding the right fit is the most important thing when job hunting.
Understanding the Job
Before anyone accepts a job they must consider a number of factors: pay, benefits, time off packages, and most importantly fit. Although most of us think that compensation should be the most important factor when selecting a potential career path, other aspects are far more important. Understanding the job and how your individual skill set fits the requirements is crucial in any healthy working relationship. Your employer wants you to be productive and you want to get satisfaction, joy, and a sense of accomplishment from your everyday tasks. To ensure everyone is happy on a day to day basis it is crucial for any new employee to fully understand the roll you will play at a job. Reading a job description and an introductory interview sheds some light on what the job might be but it is important to be thorough. It is okay to ask a recruiter specific questions about a position and what the expectations are. Additionally, you should conduct some research about a company yourself prior to even applying. Understanding a business’s purpose, mission, and culture will help you determine if it is a place worth pursuing a career with.
Advancement
Another key factor when considering interviewing and accepting a new position is the advancement opportunities. If you plan to spend half your career or more with a company you should have a desire to grow and develop alongside the business. It is okay to ask about this when interviewing. It shows you have the desire to improve yourself and can lead a recruiter to see untapped potential. No one wants an employee who only does the bare minimum. Companies grow and evolve through the input of every employee not just the people in charge. Additionally, many businesses offer continuing education incentives and it is important to take advantage of this benefit as well. Programs like these help employees prepare themselves for more complicated rolls and can help anyone climb the corporate ladder. There are countless successful companies who have CEO’s who started at the ground level and worked their way up the ranks by taking advantage of all the development opportunities and tuition assistance programs. Finally, remember that a better job or position will not be handed to you. You must show a desire for advancement and take steps to make it happen. Only you can make yourself successful.
Listen to Others
One thing that any successful business person will tell you is you cannot do everything yourself. It is important to listen to others and accept advice when given to you. There is a reason why modern offices are designed to be open and communal. The best ideas are usually invented when a group of employees discuss a problem together. Even if you think your solution will do the job do not assume it cannot be improved. Do not be scared to ask a potential employer about the challenges of the day to day job and how the company attempts to fix issues. Listen to the answer and ask yourself if this is a process and environment that you will excel in. There are countless companies and jobs out there and it is okay to realize that a business’s culture and procedures do not fit what you are looking for. Make sure to listen to what a potential employer has to say about what working there is like and do not put yourself in a situation where you believe you will be unhappy. No one wins if you get too excited for a new job and you do not pay enough attention to its real purpose, function, and responsibilities.
Understanding What Makes You Happy
Everyone enjoys challenges to be overcome, but the types of issues and our desire to deal with them differs based on our individual personality. Some people thrive on human interaction and love the communication and customer service part of a job while others prefer to sit behind the scenes and work in logistics and technical support. An individual’s preferences often shape that person’s skill set and desire for certain types of jobs. Understanding our own preferences is important when searching for a job and interviewing. People often forget that a job interview is a two way conversation. You should be considering if this is a job that works for you. It is too easy to get caught up in thinking about money and bills to be paid and take a job to early out of desperation. Job searching is difficult and finding the right position takes diligence, patience, and understanding. So next time you get called to schedule an interview, spend some time to research the job, come up with questions to ask, and consider the interview process. You can take a day or two to consider if accepting a position is right for you.
Don’t get caught up in the idea of changing jobs especially when you see the opportunities that are out there. It is important to advance your career and often times you need to change companies to do it. However, it is crucial that time is spent considering options. Happiness is priceless and getting stuck at a dead end job or working for a company with values that do not align with our own can lead to misery for everyone involved. Finally, if you work hard, make good decisions, and do the right things, odds are everything will work out in the end. Remember to advance yourself through whatever avenue presents itself and ensure you are happy with the decisions that you make.