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How to find the perfect employer – if there even is one?

Written by: Charlotte Rogers
Published on: 29 Apr 2020

Perfect Employer Hero Image

When you start your job search, it would be a good idea to think about what you are looking for in an employer and not just the job role they are offering. The quality of the job is probably going to be high on your list of priorities, but you need to think about what that company will be offering you in addition to your job title. What are the other perks of the job and what is it like to work for that employer? You will be spending a lot of your time in that workplace, so make sure you are completely aware of what you are getting yourself into. Who would be your perfect employer and why? The answer is going to be different for everyone, because everyone will have different priorities and ideas as to what makes an employer a good one.

You have to do your research

For every job that you apply for, you should also spend some time researching the company and what they have accomplished in the past. You can find a lot out about a company simply by looking online. However, the interview is where you can ask your own questions and find out a lot more information. Figure out what you would like to know and plan some questions for the interviewer. Do you want to learn more about the history of the company or what projects they have planned for the future? You want to find out if you are going to thrive in this environment and there are a few things that can sway a jobseeker opinion on an employer. Below are some things you might want to find out more about.

Location – You don’t want to be applying for a job that you can’t get to or might struggle to get to. You want to make sure that your commute is manageable. If it’s too long, it might not be viable for you. Make sure you are researching travel before you apply for the job, or if needed, really think about the idea of relocating. Don’t make a rash decision and make sure you don’t compromise on a long tiring commute; it might get harder in the long run. You can learn more about relocating for a role by reading Relocation? Is it right for you?

Company Values – You might want to get an idea on how the company is run. The ideal time to find out this information is in the interview. Sometimes, you can learn a lot just by the way they conduct the interview, if they keep you well informed or if they keep you waiting. However, you can also learn a lot from online using websites like Glassdoor, to get real employee reviews. You might want to know if they value their employees, listen to their ideas and don’t focus on micro-managing their employees.

Company History – There’s a lot you can find out about a company simply by googling their name. What projects have they worked on in the past that have been a success? What is their background story? This stuff might be very important to you and your job search. You might like to get an idea of what kind of projects you would be working on in the future, you can’t find it all online, but it’s a good place to start.

Work-life balance – Are you going to be able to enjoy your work and make sure you strike a healthy balance between your work life and personal life? If you have a family or other personal commitments, knowing that your work will be on your side is a good position to be in. Make sure that you are able to get a good understanding of what they can offer you, like flexible hours or the option to work from home some days.


The Interview

Everyone’s idea of a perfect employer is going to be different and it’s not often that you will get all the benefits from one company, so sometimes you will have to compromise. The interview is going to be an important process, because it gives you the opportunity to ask questions and learn things that you might not be able to find online. A few examples of questions to ask your interviewer might include;

  1. How long have you worked here?
  2. How does your team work together to solve problems?
  3. What’s your management style?
  4. Can you tell me about any future projects that you have planned?

Questions like this don’t only allow you to learn more about the employer, but if you are talking to the person that would be your superior, then you can learn a lot about them and the way they work too. It might be important that you have someone that allows you to be creative and allows you to grow within the company. So, asking about their experiences with the company and their team can help you learn a lot and figure out whether this is the right place for you to be.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to get every single thing you want. It’s good to be picky, but make sure you aren’t letting a good opportunity slip through your fingers. Some job seekers don’t believe you can ever find a perfect employer, but it’s about finding the one that best fits your needs and allows you to grow as a professional engineer. Take everything they say into consideration and weigh up your options. ­