Howdy, my 737 awesome readers!

A super excited Emma behind the keyboard here! Perhaps you remember the story I was telling in the first issue of Working Wonders, about my dear friend who discovered her contract would not haven been renewed? Well, she’s been on a wild adventure trying to land a new job ever since. She reached out to her contacts, tapped into her network, and applied for various gigs. And guess what? She got loads of positive feedback and finally accepted a job offer at a cool new company. Hooray! 🎉

But this got me thinking… 

No, I swear, I’m not a party pooper!

I just think that when we accept a job offer, we’re basically signing up for a mystery rollercoaster ride.

I mean, how much do we really know about the job, the company, or the team we’ll be spending most of our waking hours with? Not much, really! It’s like agreeing to something when you only know like 10% of what you’re actually getting into. Crazy, right?

Sure, there are exceptions, where we know the company or the people beforehand, but usually, it’s a leap in the dark. We’re so focused on impressing during the interviews that we forget it’s a two-way street. Just as the company chooses us, we should also choose what’s best for us. It’s like dating, but with jobs! 

What’s more, sometimes we end up taking a new job just because we lost the old one or our current job is so bleh that anything seems better.

So, let’s dive into some job-hunting wisdom! Based on my own experiences and the helpful tips I received, here are a few things you need to keep in mind. First and foremost, trust your gut feeling. The key to job happiness lies in the alignment between who you are as a professional and the culture of your future workplace. If you spot any red flags during interviews or the onboarding process, don’t be too quick to disregard them. You don’t want to end up in a mismatched workplace where you’ll feel like an alien.

• 📝 Clear job description: It’s not just about what’s written on paper but also how the hiring manager and other team members explain the role during the interview process. If the description seems vague or doesn’t match the job offer, don’t be shy to ask for clarifications. Vague descriptions might mean they want a superhero to do multiple jobs without paying them fairly.
• 🧑‍💻 Work-life balance: Working hard is great, but if it appears like the norm is for everyone to be living at the office, it might be tough to strike the work-life balance you desire. The worst thing is when your employer values you not based on the output you produce but rather the time you spend sitting at your office desk.
• 📩 Communication is key: Watch how the hiring manager and the company talk to you. Are they providing enough information, or are they overwhelming you with too much chatter? Both extremes can be problematic.
• 💸 Promises, promises: Beware of companies that focus solely on your earning potential but brush off discussions about your current salary.
• 📈 It’s not just a one-way street: A job is a mutual arrangement. It’s not just about what you can do for the company; it’s also about what the company can do for you. You spend a significant chunk of your life at work, so make sure it aligns with your personal and professional goals. You matter, too!
• 🕵🏽 Sneak peek from employees: Whenever possible, chat with a few current employees. They won’t spill the beans on everything, but you can pick up valuable clues about the work environment. Watch their reactions and listen carefully to what they say (or don’t say).
• 🛳️ Onboarding matters: Pay attention to how they treat you when you start. It’s in the company’s best interest to make sure you start smoothly and hit the ground running. If you’re left to figure things out on your own, it might indicate a lack of organization within the company.

Am I forgetting anything? For sure I am! So please feel free to reach out and share your experience and takeaways. I’m so looking forward to hearing from you!

In the meantime, to all you brave souls who just signed on for a new business adventure, good luck! Make the most of the trial period and those early weeks to suss out everything about your new job. And don’t be afraid to listen to that gut feeling. Trust it!

Here’s to you and your exciting new ventures! Happy job hunting and see you in a couple of weeks with Working Wonders, Issue #4! 🚀

Emma