The number one thing I look for in job announcements is not money. Now that we’ve got that out of the way let’s dig deeper and see what essential element may be hidden behind shiny job advertisements.
It’s no secret that today companies compete for the attention of potential candidates. Creative job announcements and generous referral programs are only the beginning of the hunt. Under certain circumstances, it can be quite difficult to sit down and make a pro-con list which is completely understandable. On the other hand, there comes a time when we stop feeling satisfied and start questioning our employment situation. The dissatisfaction comes in different forms such as “I don’t feel like I create value” or worse “I’m not valued”, or “The objectives I’m given to achieve are unrealistic”. While all of these reasons are valid and defensible they cover one big truth. And that truth is that the jobs we are complaining so much about aren’t taking us anywhere. If you feel like you don’t create value then you are stuck. If your concern is that your boss or coworker is impossible to handle then you probably do not have enough on your hands to feel moving forward and there it is, you feel stuck again. And by having enough I do not at all mean work. There is always work to do but is it actually the type of work that gives you the opportunity to overlook the annoying habits of your coworkers? I mean let’s all think about it for a second.
Would you really give up a job full of potential and challenge just because your coworker chews loudly or the not so strategically placed air conditioner freezes your pinkie? I doubt it.
Now would be the perfect time to announce the magic criteria I look for in job announcements. While I do admit having been fallen to the unlimited coffee and the pizza Fridays, what I look for now is a bit more complex and that thing is the future. Before you call it romantic, funny, or even unrealistic let me give you my perspective on what I think the future is. As soon as I get that job, the minute I sit at my new desk and start working on my very first project that’s where the future starts. And if you are still not convinced let’s say the future for you is in two years which is most likely the minimum amount of time we plan to stay at a job. How will you feel next year at the same desk working on your tenth project and thinking that you or the company you are working for is not going anywhere? In other words, your company isn’t planning for the future and there is no talk at all about your next steps after you successfully complete your next project.
Where there is no future there is no motivation and with no motivation it is undeniably difficult to move forward. I find that there are three types of companies depending on what they think about the future.
- Companies with no plans involving the future at all.
- Companies investing in the future of their employees.
- Companies already working for the future.
For obvious reasons let’s skip the first type. The difference between the second and the third is how close the company is to building the future. While it may seem that you would benefit more from the second type, companies falling in the third category will actually take you with them to the future giving you freedom, space for creativity and will gladly let you choose the resources you need for the journey you are applying for. Now let’s go ahead and quickly identify what clues we should look for in job postings in order to spot companies that have left the present and are operating in the future. And by the way, do not think of “future companies” as only the giants like Apple or Facebook. There are hundreds if not thousands of small enterprises working tirelessly to build the future. Ironically those working on such projects might not at all be sitting in skyscrapers sipping premium coffee.
Alright, so you open the announcement and check out the contents.
Warning: if you qualify for all the requirements and you are sure you will be absolutely ready to handle every single one of them, please do yourself a favor and keep scrolling. The announcement is obviously for the past you and you have nothing to do there.
Instead, look for some points absolutely or at least partially unfamiliar to you and go for that one. It is more likely to take you closer to the future. Keep in mind that the company we are looking for is not building on what already exists. And don’t fall for the “we are building the next Uber” type of hype. The companies of the future are not in line to be next. They are way ahead to be standing in line.
Other things to look for in announcements are the promises you are given. Ask yourself if there is even one point that will matter in the future and before you do that, finally define what the future is for you. Working for the future does not at all mean avoiding or escaping the present. We are conditioned to worry about what’s coming and how great would it be to work for it rather than worry about it? It is of course also much more exciting to work in a challenging, innovative, and even fairly risky environment than count the number of repetitive tasks completed in a well-air-conditioned office.
If finding clues in written ads is challenging, don’t give up on your hopes yet. Much more can be reviled during the interview where you won’t be making up communication skills but will have a chance to inquire about where the company is and where it’s headed. A bolder move would be asking about when they think the position you are being interviewed for will be obsolete :) A company of the future knows that day is coming. An even better one knows when exactly, and the best one is already hiring you for the job coming after the current position becomes obsolete.
Finding the future in job announcements can be tricky but do invest some time and go through them to find indicators of future. Do not fall for shiny graphics and offers for unlimited stuff. After all, great companies do not just offer things of temporary value. They offer opportunities to create and participate in what’s coming sooner than we can imagine-the future.
