“Pool Tables, napping pods, and free snacks are great perks, and can certainly make the employees feel well taken care of. However, when thinking long term, you want to make sure you are taken care of in other ways as well.”
Company Culture – It’s a phrase used so often in the job market, it can lose its meaning.
When accepting a position, company culture should be toward the top of your list of things to consider. Workplace environments may come to mind when thinking about a company’s culture. Building an enjoyable environment at the office does certainly set the tone for a positive culture, but you want to make sure the perks involved aren’t just diversions from what’s really lacking!
Pool Tables, napping pods, and free healthy snacks are great perks, and can certainly make the employees feel well taken care of. However, when thinking long term, you want to make sure you are taken care of in other ways as well. Now, don’t get us wrong, plenty of companies offering perks like these do also cover these other aspects…but plenty don’t as well.
So here are some other things to consider:
Paid Training & Development: Sure, you get paid…but is your company investing in you? Are they offering opportunities for you to build your skills, network, and bring your professional self to the next level?
Growth Opportunities: Are there opportunities for advancement? Being stagnant can often become unfulfilling, even when you are comfortable with your current placement. Goals are motivating – so you want to get a clear understanding of what your advancement goals are within the company.
Mission & Values: These are the framework of a company. You need to know why you do what you do in order to do it well long term. You also need to make sure it is something you believe in, or are at least comfortable with. It may seem like something you can overlook, but that intrinsic misalignment can make your job far more difficult for you.
Benefits: Early in your career, you may not consider things beyond standard health insurance, when it comes to benefits. However, it’s smart to find out how your company handles parental leave, life insurance, and retirement planning.
Can you have it all!? Sure – it’s possible. But when it’s not, the company culture that’s right for you will just come down to your priorities.
At Living Talent, we believe in placing people in positions where they thrive, personally, professionally, and authentically. This is our mission, and we align ourselves with companies who share it.
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