What to Look For in a New Job

Whether you’re a graduate looking for your first job or an industry expert searching for a career change, there are plenty of factors to consider when applying for a new role.

When looking for a new job, we know how easy it can be to get caught up on passing the application process and questions like “what do employers look for?” However, it’s also valuable to consider what you’re looking for from an employer.

From working hours to benefits, there are many things to look for in a job to make sure you find the right fit. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, with tips from the Better HR team, to help you work out what you are looking for in a new position.

Top things to look for in a new job

When deciding what to look for in a new job, certain factors will be more or less important depending on your personal circumstances, like your finances, family situation and your career stage.

If you’re applying for your first job, growth opportunities might be a priority, but if you have a family to support, things like healthcare benefits and a good work-life balance might be what you are looking for in a new position.

Whatever your situation, here are our top six job considerations to help you find a role that suits your personal and professional goals.

1. Work-Life Balance

Making sure you have a good work-life balance is our top job consideration since it’s essential for maintaining your overall wellbeing.

While a demanding role with varying hours may be exciting at first, you may find that this kind of fast-paced work doesn’t suit your lifestyle. Equally, a standard 9 to 5 may not be the right fit for you.

It’s important to have a conversation with your potential employer about work-life balance, raising any concerns or questions you might have. These could be about the company policies on holiday allowance, sick days or flexible hours.

2. Working hours

Alongside prioritising a good work-life balance, suitable working hours are one of the most important things to look for in a new job.

Working hours can vary greatly from company to company and can be a make or break factor when choosing a new job. Some jobs may also regularly require you to work outside of ‘normal hours’ i.e. in the evening and at the weekends.

Your job should fit around your daily life so it’s worth taking the time to ask about the company’s working hours and any considerations that can be made (e.g. for childcare duties) before or during the application process.

At Better, we offer flexible start/end times, so you can balance your job with your daily life.

3. The team

When people think about the job considerations of a new role, their first concern might not be their future colleagues. But, the people who you work with can make a big difference to your professional life.

Colleagues who are passionate and enthusiastic about what they do can make the work atmosphere much more positive and motivating.

Team working style is another thing to look out for – while you might prefer collaboration, the company may focus more on independent working, so check how your new potential team works and whether their style fits your own.

4. The company

When considering a new job, it’s valuable to look not only at the role you’re applying for, but also the company itself.

Checking a company’s ‘about us’ page or social media profile can help you learn about the company culture and working environment, both of which can have a big impact on how much you enjoy your job.

Alongside more practical things, like the long term stability of the company, the company values are another key thing to look for in a new job. It’s important to make sure they align with your own.

At GLL, making things better for the community is at the heart of our values. If you’re passionate about making community services and facilities better for everyone, take a look at our vacancies to become part of the team.

5. Benefits

While the salary might be the main draw of a job, you should consider what other benefits are on offer before you commit to a role. Things like holiday allowance, pension schemes and health insurance are all important factors when deciding to apply for a new job.

If you’re interested in relocating it’s also worth asking the company if they have bases in any other locations, giving you the opportunity to discover new cities, cultures and people as you work.

6. Growth

No matter how far along you are in your career, growth opportunities are one of the most important things to look for in a new job.

During the application process it’s good to ask yourself what challenges you are looking for in a position and what skills you’d like to develop. You can then decide what kinds of growth opportunities matter to you.

If you’re at the start of your career, you might choose a role that offers an entry-level salary in exchange for the chance to gain experience and grow quickly within the company.

If you’re applying for a more senior position, it’s also worth considering if there is room to grow individually within the role. This can be through educational opportunities, like paid courses/training, or just learning new skills in the workplace.

More Important Things to Look for in a New Job

Here are a few more factors you may want to consider when looking for a new job:

Responsibilities of the role – once you’ve decided that you want to work for a company/ team , you can start to dig into the specifics of the role and see if it is a good fit with your existing skills.
Location – where you work can make a big difference. When looking for a new job, it’s worth asking yourself if you want to work from home, what will your commute look like or even whether you’re willing to move for the role.
Experience required – if you’re at the start of your career, it is important to ask what do employers look for in the industry you want to go into and if certain roles require more experience that others. You can then better work out if you’d be suited to the role.

Recognition and appraisal – asking your interviewer how the company encourages and rewards hard work is a great way to show you’re invested in the role and discover how much the company will be invested in you.