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6 Things You Need To Consider On Your Job Hunt

Joe Ford

Job hunting can be equally exciting and terrifying. The prospect of new opportunities is always something to look forward to, but there’s also the added stress of trying to find a good job that pays well and is suited for your skills and needs. To save time and effort, you need to consider some things on your job hunt so the process can be as smooth as possible. Here’s what you need to know.

  1. Consider Location and Commute

When you’re job hunting, don’t just apply to any job you stumble on. You need to take the location of the company and the available commute into consideration. What’s the point of having a good job if you need a two-hour commute every day? It’s not sustainable and chances are, you won’t last for very long in the job. No matter how tempting the opening may be, you need to be realistic when it comes to the commute and how much you’re willing to spend just getting to the office. You should also consider how easy the commute is. The time you spend on the road affects your personal as well as professional life. Going to the office after a couple of hours’ commute is stressful and affects your focus, so is going back home late at night, exhausted and unable to spend time with your family.

  1. What Are the Working Hours?

The working hours of the company are just as important as the commute. Not all companies have standard working hours, and you need to know what you’re getting into. Be sure to ask about the company’s work hours and try to see if they suit you. Your work life shouldn’t interfere with your personal life, so make sure you understand when the company would need you and what ‘normal’ working hours are.

  1.  Prepare for the Interview

It’s always a good idea to prepare for the interview in any way you can. If you’re applying to a technical role, refresh the information in your head and read up on the topics you might be asked about. You should also try to answer some aptitude test sample questions online and see how they work because a lot of companies have pre-employment exams. They’d give you an aptitude test to evaluate your intelligence and your ability to solve complex problems and identify patterns. If the first time you take an aptitude test is during the interview, you’ll probably not do very well. So, always prepare beforehand so you won’t be stuck if you’re given pre-employment exams and questions.

  1. Benefits

A lot of young professionals make the mistake of focusing on just the salary when they’re job hunting. You need to also consider the benefits that the company offers, which can be just as important as the salary, if not more. Does the company offer health insurance? Not all do, and some companies offer poor rates that wouldn’t really help you. What about retirement plans? A retirement plan is a very beneficial option to have and it can help you prepare for the future and save up. You should also consider sick days, vacation time offered by the company, and other perks like employee discounts and company retreats.

  1. Focus on the Resume

Your resume is the first impression potential employers get of you, so it needs to be good. Just because your resume was good five years ago, doesn’t mean it will be now. The standards for a good resume are fluid and change all the time. So, make sure your resume is simple and easy to read while still remaining informative and clear. Try to adapt your resume to the job you’re applying to and make slight modifications so you can give recruiters what they’re looking for when they read your job history and credentials.

  1. Advancement Opportunities

One last thing to keep in mind when looking for a job is the growth opportunities. Can you advance in this company and this position, or will you be doing the same thing five years from now? This is especially important at the start of your career because you can’t afford to be in the same place for too long. Always look for jobs where you can learn new things and grow.

Job hunting is less scary when you’re prepared. Read up on the company you’re going to interview in and make sure you’ve covered all your angles. Remember to check if the company’s values align with yours so you don’t waste your time and theirs. Last but not least, make sure you’re applying for a job that won’t affect your personal life in any negative way.