“Never continue in a job you don’t enjoy. If you are happy in what you are doing, you’ll like yourself, you’ll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you’ll have more success than you could possibly have imagined.” —Roger Caras

Although it’s an incredibly important factor, the size of the payslip shouldn’t be your only consideration when you’re looking for a job. You must consider how happy you’ll be in the job for example, as a huge salary doesn’t always guarantee job satisfaction. There are also a lot more aspects of the job and company to take into account, all of which are important and shouldn’t by any means be overlooked. If you are looking for a job, you must consider the following eight factors.

 

Most Important Factor while looking for a job

To help you enjoy waking up in the morning, consider these factors as the crucial ones when looking for a job switch.

1. Check the working hours

Work-life balance is important and you must never assume that the job you’re applying for will be the standard 9-to-5. Make sure you understand the hours that you’ll be expected to work, both in terms of what’s in your contract and any overtime. Maybe it’s common for employees to stay an hour or two after their shift has ended, or it’s a Monday-to-Friday job and you’ll regularly be asked to come in on the weekend – make sure you ask when you’re applying or during interviews so that you’ll have the full picture of how your days will be impacted by the new job.
 

2. Check out for growth opportunities

Advancement opportunities in the workplace are very important for career progression. Therefore, be sure to ask if there are such opportunities while you’re at the interview. By doing this, you’ll give the interviewers a picture of someone interested in staying with the company and who is driven and ambitious. It also gives you a clear picture of the potential future of your career if you join.
 

3. Company Culture and Environment

The culture of your new working environment will have a big impact on your enjoyment of your working life. If you can, find out if current and previous employees are happy working there, and with how they’re treated by the company. Ask your interviewers if they like working there, what the employee turnover rate is, and how often social events are arranged among the employees – this will give you a good indication of the company culture.
 

4. Company history

Understanding a company's history can give you a glimpse into its stability, values, and culture. Find out as much as you can about a potential employer from press releases, websites, and social media accounts. 
 

5. Recognition and appraisal

Everyone appreciates praise and recognition for a job well done. When looking for a job, find out how potential employers encourage growth and reward hard work. Common performance incentives include bonuses, yearly trips, and awards.
 

 6. Colleagues

Your future colleagues are going to be a huge part of your life, so try to get to know as many as possible before accepting a job offer. Pay attention to how coworkers interact with each other and ask as many questions as possible about the working environment. Take note of management as they work with junior staff
 

7. Technology

In many jobs, you will be required to use technological tools such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. Before accepting a job offer, find out which tech the company provides and which you must supply yourself. You should also have a solid understanding of the software, hardware, and operating systems you will be expected to use on the job.
 

8. Benefits offered

As much as the salary is a huge part of the package that the potential employer is offering, there are other benefits that you need to consider. These include things like holiday allowance, retirement contributions and matching, insurance, bonuses, and healthcare. Before accepting a job or signing the contract, you need to ensure that all these extras are negotiated.