How To Tell A Great Employer From The Rest
Talk is cheap, as they say. How often have you seen something to the effect of “Our people are the most important part of our organization” or “The people who work here are our greatest asset” appear alongside a company’s career site? It’s everywhere and most of it sounds generic, unspecific, and exactly the same. What counts are the tangible things a company is willing to offer you in order to make you feel like a valued member of their team.
Money is overrated
We’re certainly an economy driven by commerce and the almighty dollar, but it’s never been what truly fulfills us. Sure we like to buy nice things, maybe travel a little bit, but to choose one particular job or company over another purely for a salary hike is likely to be a mistake.
That’s because you’re the one that has to wake-up every day and do the work – the extra 15% or 20% some other company gave you to join them isn’t going to help motivate you (especially after tax) when you’re on projects you don’t believe in.
Your salary is also the minimum a company should provide. Somewhere along the way, salary negotiation became the only focal point when signing a new contract. This shouldn’t be the case and there’s a lot more that companies should and do provide – you just need to know what you’re looking for.
Perks matter
The best companies are the ones that will go well out of their way in order to entice you to join them. They’re not shy or withdrawn when pitching their company – Ottawa’s Shopify leads with “Quit your day job. Work at Shopify” – and the last thing they’ll mention is offering you “a competitive salary”.
Great employers don’t need to tell you they’re a great place to work – it will be obvious. They’ll give you insights, through video, or blogs, or open nights, into what it’s like to work there before you’ve even stepped into an interview room.
They’ll also have the best perks when it comes to making your life more enjoyable and easy. Many offer free meals, opportunities to attend conferences, house cleaning services, child care offerings, as well as allowances towards health related initiatives.
Look for the companies that work hardest to grab your attention.
