5 things new grads should look for in their first job in the new normal
Graduation season is coming, which means many college seniors will be preparing for job applications. Aside from preparing your resume and answers to some commonly-asked questions, you should also do research to see if the company is The One for you.
Asking thoughtful questions gives recruiters the impression that you are prepared and interested in the role.
Job seekers usually have compensation as their priority, but they should also ask about intangible factors that are highly valuable and relevant in this new normal.
Vince Dizon, HR Leader of the country’s top employer, Procter & Gamble Philippines, shares his perspective, “In P&G, people have always been our most important assets. Beyond highly competitive pay levels, our employees also value how the company cares for them during crises, provides them with flexibility, and champions an inclusive environment where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.”
The mixed realities of the past year have proven the value of these factors. With over 18 years of experience locally and regionally, Dizon shares some important things to job seekers should ask before joining a company:
1. Company culture
Find out about the company’s culture and values. While pay is usually the top priority of new jobbers, it is culture and values that pervade an employee’s daily experiences, so research if the company culture fits with your own values. Also research how the company responds in times of crisis and how they support the unique situations of employees during tough times.
2. Equal access and opportunities for growth
A first job should provide foundational experiences for your growth and development. These can be in the form of training, challenging assignments, mentoring and networking. Does the company you are eyeing provide equal access and opportunities to grow and succeed? Inquire about team dynamics and diversity. These things will matter as you build a successful long-term career.
A company’s bigger aspiration should be to create a world free from bias, with equal voice and opportunity for all individuals.
3. Inclusive and unique benefits
Most organizations provide government-mandated pay and benefits like overtime pay, premium holiday pay, and government contributions. Other companies are more intentional in designing their benefits program to provide more value to employees and their dependents.
Research how the company responds in times of crisis and how they support the unique situations of employees during tough times.
Take parental leave policy, some provide eight weeks of fully paid parental leave for ALL parents, regardless of gender or marital status. This gives equal opportunity for all parents—including dads, adoptive parents, LGBTQ parents—to share in caregiving and bond with their new children. Moms continue to receive 105 calendar days fully paid maternity leave.
“We design for equality and inclusion in our benefits and set higher standards for these in our policies. We are passionate about changing outdated perceptions around parental roles and want to shift from the stereotype that the women should be the sole full-time caregiver in the early stages of a child’s life. We believe caring for home and family has no gender,” explained Vince.
4. Flexibility to support your needs
It is helpful to know how flexible a company is to support your needs especially during these times. You might need flexible work hours to manage family care while working from home, or even to pursue passions outside of work. At some point, you will take time off for sickness, emergencies, personal recharge vacation days or even can't-miss milestone celebrations. Research the company’s policies on this or ask in the latter stages of the job interview so you can include this in your overall considerations.
Look for a company that lets employees take paid leave for personal needs and family milestones, on top of standard vacation and sick leaves. This helps employees effectively manage a wide variety of personal needs like emergencies, family care situations, and once-in-a-lifetime celebrations such as special birthday celebrations, weddings, big anniversaries or a child’s graduation.
5. Work arrangements
While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to have employees work from home, it is still a good idea to ask about work arrangements in the current situation, and what it could look like months from now or after the pandemic. Inquire about any policies, tools or benefits they provide in support of this. Understand how teams are structured and how they operate. Do they have systems to foster a strong culture of inclusion despite many employees working remotely?