Factors to be Considered While Taking up a Job/Profile

Choosing between competing offers can be a difficult task. Sometimes even knowing which direction to begin a job search in can leave a person more than a little confused. Listed below are some of the main factors you should consider while taking up a job. These are listed in a general order of priority but this could change for different people:

1. Job Profile: This refers to the broad area of work you will be operating in. This decision can have very long term implications. Choose a career in keeping with your personality as that can be crucial to your long term success and happiness (there are a number of tools on the internet for this. It will definitely be worth your while to check a few out. Try this for a start.) Moving out of a profile into a completely new one may not be possible at a later stage. Also, it may be advisable to build yourself into a profile over the long term as you will add more value to yourself as well as to successive employers that way. Changing profiles, while not an uncommon practice may be more of an exception than the rule. Remember that changing profiles means you have to master a completely new set of skills and theory. You could spend this time in the same profile moving up to the next level in it. Changing profiles is advisable when you are unhappy with the basic fundamentals of one profile or feel you are stuck in a low growth trajectory due in large part to that profile. Some of the profiles where officers may find their calling are HR, Sales, Administration, Security, Operations, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Purchase, Marketing, Finance, Project Management, Business Development, Strategy, etc. Please think of this in some way as making your choice of arms.
2. Growth Opportunities: The profile must offer you growth opportunities within the company as well as outside. For e.g. getting into a niche profile even in the biggest company of a small industry may put you at a disadvantage at some stage.
   
3. Financial Remuneration: Please decide how much is the minimum you are willing to work for based on all the factors in your life. Anything above that would be a bonus (learn how to negotiate). Salaries can differ widely based on profile, industry, work experience, etc. Please don't make the mistake of deciding your desirable salary level solely based on those of your peers though it is a good idea to know the broad salary levels your peers are getting. While your salary is very important, I would advice officers to be willing to make small compromises when it comes to getting a job with a very good company, or when you are getting a profile you really want. I have a course mate who joined the Aditya Birla Group in its BPO operations since the company was very good (one of the best employers in India) but later found that the BPO industry was not something he really enjoyed.
   
4. Working Environment: This may be something you may get to know only after you have actually joined a company but try and find out as much as possible about a prospective employer as possible before taking up an offer with them. Speak to people working in the company, others in the same industry who may have an idea, check on the internet, etc.
   
5. Learning Opportunities: This is interconnected in many ways to Serial No 3. The more you learn, more are your chances of growing within and outside the company. Take up new assignments within the company whenever possible. Volunteer. I know its a scary word in the armed forces, but this will certainly help you to learn new aspects of the business as well as to come to the notice of your boss/super boss. I would also like to mention here that smaller/medium ventures/companies tend to provide more exposure and flexibility. Large companies have stricter JDs (job descriptions) and cross learning/exposure may be limited.
   
6. Company/Brand: This one is a mixed bag. Varied views and no hard and fast suggestions. However, over the period of your career try to ensure you have worked with good/big companies/brands. You may find yourself getting branded a small company man and be unable to move to a larger company later. However, keep yourself flexible on this and don't limit yourself. Please be careful about very new/small ventures/companies with no pedigree who might offer you large salaries and fancy designations. It may be a good idea to skip these.
   
7. Level in the Hierarchy: It is desirable to be as high as possible in a company reporting in to someone senior in the company, however this may be completely out of your hands. Do inquire about this during your job interview though.
   
8. Authority: Your level in the hierarchy would decide the authority you have in the system. I have seen though, authority can arise out of the work you do and the interpersonal relationships you share at work. Please remember to hang the ego outside the door before you step into the office. You are there to work and let nothing come in the way of your accomplishing that.