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When looking for a job it is important that you don’t just look for the jobs with the highest salaries, while this is still important for many you must consider a job that will lead to long term growth and happiness. Here are six things to look for in your future job:

The people
In any job it is important that you find a workplace with people who are welcoming and make you feel like a part of the team. You will be spending a large proportion of your time with these people so you want to be working somewhere where the employees are friendly and can help with your progression in the job role. 

You love what you do
There is no use doing a job that you dislike. Find a career path that you enjoy and a job that you love,  you don’t want to dread going to work every day, you want to wake up and be excited about what you’re doing. Find a job that you look forward to going to, and something which allows you to achieve and strive for your goals. 

Advancement
One of the main reasons that people leave their jobs is because there is no opportunity to advance, this is where people get to a certain point in their career where they can’t progress any further. So look for a job role that allows you to climb the corporate ladder and research if the company offers training or education programmes that you can be a part of. Even if there aren’t any opportunities for vertical growth, there might be chance for you to grow horizontally, for example if you start off working in the IT department there might be an opportunity for you to try your hand at marketing. 

Location, Location, Location!
The dreaded commute! You don’t want to spending hours and hours every day of the week travelling to and from work. Sometimes it is unavoidable but if you can try and find a job that isn’t too far from where you are living. In some circumstances you might have to relocate for your job, make sure you do your research before you make the move. Is it located in an area that you can see yourself living for the long term? Is it in a location that you can afford? And how far way is it from friends and family? These are all things to consider when deciding to move for a job. 

Company Culture
The culture of a company can have a huge impact on their employees. Organisations such as Google and Facebook have been synonymous with culture and give their employees perks, benefits and environments to work in which allow them to be as creative as possible. Happy employees equals greater productivity and retention, so try and find an organisation that rewards you for your hard work and makes you feel valued. 

Work-Life Balance
Having a balance between work and personal time is important for long term happiness in your career. Try and find a job within an organisation where you get the entitled 28 paid annual leave days per year. You want a career that allows you to do your hobbies and fun activities in your spare time, you don’t want a job that demands all of your waking hours to be dedicated to your work. 

Article by Sophie-Anne Bardley of Student Job 

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