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Email ThisI am currently in the throws of buying a new car. Buying a new car takes a lot of time and energy. We put this energy in because of the impact that a car has on our lives. Financially, it’s a large investment. We spend too much time in our cars and want to be comfortable with our environment. We want to feel secure in the car. And we want to know that down the road the car will stay in good condition and not cause us more hardship. So, we put that time and energy in.
We have similar expectations for a job. Your job has the single biggest impact on your personal finances. You probably spend more time at work than at home. You want a job that has the potential to last and does not cause you hardship down the road. Yet, we don’t put the same time and energy into selecting a job.
When we look at jobs we look primarily at job duties and pay. You wouldn’t buy a car if all someone tells you is that it works, it has 4 tires, the color is blue, it has rear windshield wipers, and it costs $15,000. So why would you select a job when all you know is that you’re going to do payroll, recruit and interview applicants, uphold state and federal policies, and get paid $35,000? When it comes to selecting a job we often settle before we know the details, before we’ve done the research.
The 4 major areas of car research are:
- Company Reputation
- Vehicle Reputation
- Comparison to Other Vehicles
- Test Driving
These same details should be researched before taking a job offer.
Company Reputation = Company Reputation
When you buy a car you ask everyone what they think of the company. Often when selecting a job we only look at the company from a surface level. We mostly care about the industry. Maybe we go online and look at the vague website but that’s just so we can pretend to be knowledgeable in the interview. We rarely ask around to people we know about the company, or check our their stock performance, or search Vault.
Vehicle Reputation = Department Reputation
Not only do you research the car company, but you also look at what the standards are for that vehicle. Does it have a good safety record? Does it drive well in the snow? Does it start breaking down after 50,000 miles? Think back to your last interview. Did you remember to ask why the position is open? Did you ask why people leave the department in general? Maybe you did ask and didn’t get an answer, that can be telling as well. Make sure you look at the department as a whole and make sure you can live with the standards of the office as well as your coworkers day in and day out. Otherwise, you might just be breaking down after 50,000 miles.
Comparison to Other Vehicles = Comparison to Other Jobs
It doesn’t matter if you have what you think is your favorite car, most people compare their favorite to several others before making a purchase. If you can avoid selecting a job just because it’s the first thing that comes along, then do it. Sometimes you need a paycheck and you don’t have time to be choosy. The easiest thing to compare the position to is to previous positions you’ve held. Do you really think you can stand doing payroll again? You should also compare the job to other open positions in the market. Are you taking the job because you’re settling or are you taking it because you think you’ll enjoy it?
Test Driving = ?
Lastly, you always make sure to test drive the vehicle and make sure it’s what you want. Sure, you probably can’t test drive a job. But, would it hurt to ask if you can shadow for a day before accepting the job offer? Have you ever tried? You could give it three months, but then you’re already stuck with having to put it on your resume. The best thing you can do is make sure there are on sight visits before taking the job, not just looking over the interview room but seeing the atmosphere at the company and in your department.
One fact remains true, it’s much easier to get the necessary information when buying a car than it is when selecting a job. That’s why it’s important that you put the extra time and energy into making sure you have a good fit before taking a job. It may save you from getting a lemon. 
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As someone who works in the career services realm AND who just bought a new car, I think this is all great advice. I just wish I read this back in 1996 when I accepted my first job out of college! In determining company and department reputation, LinkedIn may also be a good tool to use in the research process. Contacts in my extended network have helped out in this area from time to time.
Nice work Rachel.