Should You Apply for the Job?

Here's How to Know: 

After going through your fair share of rejections, it’s easy to start thinking about applying for any and every job you find available.

At this point, you need to find a job so that’s okay, right?

The simple answer is no. First, you need to determine what really makes a job or company your “dream” and recognize that it may be different than you initially thought. Once you’ve realistically determined what your dream profession really involves, ask yourself these questions when deciding which jobs you should apply for:

What’s the culture of the company, and does it match the type of workplace environment you want to be in? Determine what you want in a company and envision your dream company – does this one come close?

Do their core values reflect your values? Your personal values are important, and you should be in an environment that has similar values as you – after all, you’ll be spending a lot of time there.

Is the company honest? Look at the job description. Do they describe what you’ll be doing every day, or do they just vaguely mention “other duties?” Also look at the requirements and company description to see how it compares with reviews and the company website.

What do their reviews say? Reviews are how many determine whether they want to buy a product or service, so why not do the same when you’re job hunting? See what previous and current employees, as well as customers, say about the company, their policies and benefits, work/home life balance, the atmosphere, and their customer service and products.

Once you’ve established if you want to apply with the company or not, it’s then time to prepare for the interview and the possibility of a job offer. Below are thoughts to keep in your mind during the interview.

How did the initial meeting go? Did conversation flow? What was their attitude? Are they really engaged when you’re speaking? What does your gut feeling tell you after the interview? If the initial interview didn’t feel great, it’s a good indication the company may not be a good fit for you.

Are they offering to compensate you fairly? When discussing compensation, does it match your qualifications and the position’s requirements? Does the offer align with the current market and industry standards? There is a lot that goes into determining and negotiating fair compensation, but if an offer is extremely low for the experience you bring as well as compared to industry standards, that is a red flag. Also pay attention to the negotiation process – are they willing to discuss and respond respectfully and appropriately?

The job search is a grueling process; you may start to think applying for all the job positions you find makes sense, but in reality it’s just settling to work where you won’t be happy long-term. Don’t do that… take your time, asses how you feel toward the company, and then make your decision. It’s in everyone’s best interest to ensure it’s a good fit all around, otherwise, your relationship will be short and you’ll both be starting over again soon.