How to find the right workplace!

Job searching can be a long and frustrating process;? add to that the extra pressure of finding a company that’s the right fit for you, and you might feel like it’s an impossible feat. However, if you manage to outline the most important factors when joining a company, it is actually not as complicated as you might think. Putting in that little bit of effort when searching for a new position might save you a lot of trouble in the future.?

While my job at Salonkee kind of fell into my lap (which I am extremely thankful for), I had a rough idea of what kind of company I wanted to work for throughout the process of job hunting. These properties will most likely vary from person to person, but here is what was on my priority list:

A young and dynamic team

As someone in their twenties, I felt that I would best fit into a team of similarly aged people. This not only ensures that everyone has a similar sense of humor, but we are all at similar stages in life. This allows us to bond and relate to each other in ways that would be much harder if there were larger age gaps. There is a general friendly and open atmosphere in our office that allows everyone to be their authentic selves. There is no pressure to put on an act or pretend to be people we are not.

A company that understands the importance of work-life balance

We are all here to do our job and do it as well as we possibly can, but we are humans and not robots. It was super important to me to be part of a company that understands the need for breaks, holidays and who doesn’t encourage overworking yourself. Being treated like a human being who has needs outside of their job was very high on my list of priorities.

The perfect combination of guidance without being micromanaged

I thrive on having structure, so working a job that has somewhat strict deadlines while still allowing me the freedom to structure my own work seemed like the perfect environment for me. Salonkee truly excels at this, I count myself lucky to have superiors who truly care about guiding me and helping me grow. Regular meetings help me understand my tasks; then I am left to figure out how I want to go about completing said tasks. Somewhat being left to my own devices shows that they have trust in me and my abilities to perform adequately.

The freedom to be creative

Creativity has always been at the base of everything I do. I need constant and regular creative outlets, so being able to put that creativity into my work was a non-negotiable for me. I wanted to have the opportunity to input my ideas and have them be seriously considered.

The space to grow

This one ties in with all the others and is all encompassing. Having the space to grow means having the freedom to make mistakes without being condemned. Every time you make an error you have the opportunity to improve. Figuring out an issue and possible solutions is how you gain knowledge and experience. In addition, having your ideas encouraged and valued will help your confidence grow. Everybody likes being complimented and feeling like their opinion is useful and valued.

Healthy communication and honesty

This one might be the most important one to me personally. Getting complimented is great, but I do not want to be coddled. I appreciate some constructive criticism and honest feedback and would rather have my confidence take a hit, than being told I did a great job when in reality, it was subpar. To reiterate what I mentioned in the paragraph above, mistakes are an opportunity to learn and grow.?

Additionally, I find it incredibly important for teammates to be honest with one another. Just like in any other relationship, if there is an issue, it should be communicated openly and respectfully, whether that’s about a task or a personal problem.

Now what?

All of these factors may seem overwhelming, but in reality, they are elements that should already be present in an established company. If it is not clear to you whether a specific company does, in fact, fulfil your requirements, do not hesitate to ask questions, either before or during the interview process! This shows initiative on your part, as well.

Personally, I consider myself very lucky to have found a position that covers all of these bases. With a bit of luck, you’ll find yours too!