So You Want to Work for A Great Employer

So You Want to Work for A Great Employer One question that pops up again and again is, how can I find a good company to work for? Let me ask you this. How would you define a good company? The answer is as individual as you. But based on analysis of Glassdoors 5-star employers, HR technology reviewer Software Advice,  compiled some interesting data  (and supplied the terrific graphics) that may help you better assess your next move. Dont Discount Small Small companies top the list of 5-star ratings given by reviewers on Glassdoor. The problem with small companies is you probably dont hear about them as often. They are out there, you just need to find them. Software Advices analysis found that the 42% of Glassdoors 5-star rated companies had between 51-149 employees. So where do you find small companies? Why not try Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and visit your local library! Dont Discount New Companies founded around  2010 have something in common.  47% of the top-reviewed companies on Glassdoor were less than 5 years old! Just because a company hasnt been around forever, doesnt mean it isnt a good place to work. Whos Hiring? Another question Im frequently asked is, whos hiring? Every company hires. But if you look at the  industries that have been growing, that may provide an indication of where to find  opportunities. (This is a national trend. You may find that in your area, the trends could be a bit different.) Business Services and Information Technology are pretty sure bets for growth these days. As you can see, the majority (81%) of 5-star rated companies were from  these industries. If you arent a programmer, coder or sales geek, dont let these industries throw you off. Any company in any industry has a full range of job opportunities. If these arent industries you have prior experience with, learn all about how companies function- how do they service customers, how do they invoice/bill,  when new clients are added how does the company staff up and when clients leave, how is the workforce re-aligned? Learn about the specific services and technology each company offers and keep abreast of competitors and trends. Just because you dont have  experience in an industry, doesnt necessarily mean you arent qualified. What it means is that you have to develop an interest and learn the new language of the industry. Prioritize Your Preferences Think about  whats important to you right now, at this stage of your career. What do you need to feel satisfied with how you spend your 40+ hours a week? Listed below are common attributes, but certainly this list is not complete. You may have other desires/needs not mentioned. You should add them. Rank these in order of importance to you. Youll need this to help you weight your decision later on when you have multiple job offers. Benefits Compensation Hard work Intelligent co-workers Learning opportunities Meaningful work Professional development Supportive Management Team/Camaraderie Transparency Heres what the 5-star companies had going for them: Top-Listed Attributes of Five-Star Companies Honeymoon  Thinking? Could the high marks be attributed to the honeymoon phase of being in a new job? Perhaps. The majority of positive reviews came from people who had been with their company less than a year. This could also be skewed due to the demographic makeup of Glassdoor users. Dont dismiss the fact that almost the same percent (41%) of reviewers had been with the company a year or more. Reviewer’s Tenure at Current Company Pros Far Outweigh Cons Sure, even the best companies have flaws. But the most  of these employers dont need to change much.  The pain points, or areas that could be seen as needing a fix, included addressing growing pains, long hours, high pressure. Top-Listed Pain Points of Five-Star Companies Keep Doing What Youre Doing The majority of reviewers felt their company was on the right track and should continue to stay the course. This is good news for these companies, as long as they have really identified what theyve been doing to create an enviable workplace. Some may just have been winging it Whether by luck or on purpose, these 5-star companies have created something good! Culture, careful hiring and listening to employees are recommendations from employees to management, in case they needed reminding! Employees’ Advice to Management at Five-Star Companies New grad, career changer, or just looking for a new challenge? How will these findings change how you approach your job search? There is so much more to think about when selecting a new job! All images credited to Software Advice