Deciding on Which Type of Business To Work For

For most of us when conducting job searches we look to explore and consider jobs that we would like to do and not necessarily what we are qualified or experienced enough to do.  And even if we get this bit right, we think mostly about the job itself (and if we 'liked' the people we met) but not really about the type of business, its values, mission etc.  Yet these are quite probably the most important aspects of whether we will like the job and enjoy working in that particular company.  Getting the match right here not only means that we are more likely to enjoy the job but also that we will be more likely to get the job (since we will suit the organisation as much as it suits us)

Deciding on which type of business to work for when you search for you next job is rather important. If this article gives you just a nudge to think about deciding on a business type then great, most of us work around three quarters of our week and we do feel it is important to know a little about the businesses that you intend to apply to.

Part of the process for getting this right is to have thought about things in advance.  This way you will know what to look out for (both in terms of positives and negatives) and  have some questions prepared.  General open questions are good - what's the culture?  How are the valued manifested? etc.  In reality we all make recruitment decisions based on limited time/exposure (this is true for both the application and the recruiter) so we need to use this time to give us the best possible chance of making the right decision.

There is a good chance that you do not know what the atmosphere and culture of a business is like until the interview stage, however it is worth considering the type of business you are applying for a job in - it could save you and your potential interviewer time if you are applying for a role in an environment you already know you can settle into and enjoy your time there.

Working in an environment and a business type that you are comfortable with is key, if you have had experience of working in varied environments - such as a plush open plan and formal office and on or around a building or manufacturing site, you are lucky enough to possibly already know which one you may be most comfortable with.

In addition to the office environment, thinking of the type of business that meets your goals and career aims. When applying for jobs, target businesses that you feel match your values by reading company profiles on job search websites and also visiting the companies own website to get a good insight into their culture.  Sometimes it is the second job that is more important that the one we actually take.

It is good to make decisions that feel right, finding yourself applying for jobs within companies that don't quite meet your career standards and making decisions that have not been thought through may mean you spending more time job searching and being interviewed than is completely necessary.