When you’re searching for a new job, it’s easy to become immersed in the recruiting and interview process. Yet it’s important to remember that, in a way, you’re interviewing the company, too. After all, you want to do what you can to determine that your prospective employer and the opportunity is a good fit, just as they’re weighing whether or not you’re the right person for the job.
The good news? You don’t need to channel your inner private investigator to evaluate your future employer. Instead, take Roger’s lead and do some simple online research, as outlined in the latest episode of our Engineering Career GPS series on Engineering.com.
Spend some time looking for current employees on LinkedIn to get a better sense of their skills, responsibilities and accomplishments. And use LinkedIn and the Internet to research the company, too. The goal is to get a better feel for the company culture.
You probably gleaned a basic feel for the business during your interview. Yet assessing a company’s culture goes far beyond office space and the mood of its employees. Do some digging to find out what things your prospective employer values — is the company actively involved in the community, does it support your preferred professional associations and/or does the company host special events or team competitions?
Those are all signs that the company values not just its employees but also its presence within the larger community. By exploring that sort of involvement, you’ll be better able to ascertain whether or not you’ll fit in.
One other tip: Reach out to your network. Maybe you know someone who works at the company and would be willing to answer some questions. Accepting a new job is a big decision, and when it comes to helping you make the right move, knowledge is certainly power.
If you’re in Roger’s shoes and are searching for a new career, consider joining our team at Burns & McDonnell. If you’d like to flex your research muscle and evaluate us as a future employer, feel free to check out our Careers pages, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
