Looking for that perfect company for your first job or internship can be tricky. It can be like finding your match on a dating app but being able to realize later on that it will not work out. To avoid wasting time and effort on those trial and error jobs, one must be keen in finding that job that you will absolutely love and work with a long time.
Here are some guidelines to spot that awesome job:
- Find your Match
Spend time in looking up companies for your internship. You don’t need to rush and submit applications to every company you see. It is better to narrow down your list to your top 3 companies and focus on those applications. Taking career quizzes online can also help you decide on which path you want to pursue that will surely utilize your skills and capabilities.
- Know the insides of your target company
Use your social media network connections to know more about the company you are eyeing. Using your connections doesn’t mean that you need to spy on the company. You just have to understand the background of the company to know what you are getting yourself into. If you are lucky, you might get a referral for the position!
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Interviews are very important in internship applications. You must prepare yourself to answer a bunch of questions that may land you the position. As good as answering interview questions, it would also be great to ask questions about the job and the company. This will not only enlighten your doubts and hesitations, but it will also show that you are really interested in the job and the company.
- Know the company’s culture
Let’s say that you already got your job offer and the company is great, but are you sure you are ready for how they work on an everyday basis? Searching for company and employee reviews may help you decide if you will take the job offer or not. Companies practice different cultures and it helps to know what these are right from their own employees.
Here are some of the questions you may need to ask:
- Are they too formal and strict?
- Are they too casual and laidback?
- Do they provide room for advancement in the future?
- How is the organization structured?
- Do they support long term plans for interns?
- Make sure that you already found that awesome job
After you got all of the four steps secured, it is now time to carefully read and understand the job offer. Before you sign that piece of paper, you must make sure that you really want the position and that this will boost your career in the future. Understand if it will provide you with the flexibility or work-life balance that you need. Will it be giving you adequate pay for the job description that you will be filling? If not, here is your chance to negotiate for allowances or adjustments. If what you are reading on the job offer makes you think twice, then it is better to haggle and discuss now before you sign.
