What to Consider When Looking for a Job (Part 1)
So, you are on a job hunt? As I have aged, I have discovered that as you grow older, the “ideal job” is harder to find. Why? There are more considerations now as having been in the job market for years and as you age, you now have a better idea of what you like and what you don’t like. Furthermore, your age is usually inversely proportional to the amount of tolerance you would have for little or major irritations.
Still, whether you are a young job-hunter or whether you are old, you will still be looking at the same basic things. What are these?
1. Salary/pay: – cash pays for our bills and obligations so this is always a major consideration. Money or salary may not be everything as you age but it is still something. Before you embark on your job search, try to arrive at a minimum acceptable salary considering the position that you are targeting, as well as the lifestyle that you wish to maintain. When moving jobs, it is good to probably get double your present salary but a 25-50% hike would probably be good, particularly if you are already unhappy with your present employer.
2. Location, location, location. – it is always better to work near your home. It saves you gasoline or transportation expenses and it also saves you the stress of going through horrific traffic. After about 14 years of working in the Manila/Pasay area, I have just discovered how far that was with our recent move to the Makati area. I have cut my travel time in half — and my stress by more than that. You can leave your home later and come home earlier. My next move will be to the Ortigas area.
3. Other benefits - a salary is not all you will get from a job. So before you ditch what seems to be a lower-paying job, consider the other perks that go with it. Vacation and sick leaves, for example — are they convertible to cash? Can they be accumulated? Do they increase with your number of years in service?
What training will you get? Are you required to pay back in terms of number of years of service whatever formal training you will get?
Are there travel opportunities? What sort of allowances do you receive when you travel?
What health or group life benefits are provided? Does the company offer you a car loan or a car plan? What are the terms?
How many months of pay are guaranteed every year? What sort of bonuses can you look forward to?
All the above benefits must be quantified in money terms for you to be able a good choice in terms of which job to take and which to ignore.
(To be continued.)