If you haven’t heard the news, I am on the hunt for a new job. And my top priority isn’t on finding just any job…it’s on finding the right one. So I’ve been thinking a lot about the type of company I’d like to work for, and what I’ve come up with is very relevant to what I’m studying because it mirrors what I think an ideal company should be. Here’s my wishlist:
- I want a company where it’s OK for employees to be passionate about their work and their industry.
- I want a company that is loyal to their employees, and that makes a serious investment in their success.
- I want a company that is supportive of employees speaking at conferences and being involved in their professional community since this only makes people more passionate about what they do.
- I want a company that encourages brainstorming and new ideas…and where it’s ok to disagree.
- I want a company where it’s ok to make mistakes as long as you make improvements.
- I want a company that is committed to building processes that make sense.
- I want a company that does more than pay lip service to problems…they make real and tangible improvements.
- I want a company that is data-driven in their decision making.
- I want a company where senior leadership are open to hearing about real problems, even if improvements aren’t made right away.
- I want a company where successes are celebrated rather than envied.
- I want a company that allows me to have an outside life…to train for and run marathons and go to school and to have passions that have nothing to do with work.
You’ll notice that job description is not included in any way in this description, and that’s intentional. I believe that if people are happy and satisfied in the environment they work in, than their job can be any number of things…and that if they aren’t happy and satisfied, not even the most ideal job description will do.
That’s the ideal I have in my head…I just hope it exists out there somewhere!
What’s your ideal workplace? Leave a comment!
Photo: X + Y on Flickr
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Hope you find something awesome! These are all huge points – the being open to speaking/sharing/collaborating is a big one for me. I get so much from everyone in the highed community, I’d be a hypocrit/greedy-gus if I didn’t try to contribute as well.
Ask Francisco Coronado how that whole “setting out to discover the mythical Seven Cities of Gold” thing went. You guys could trade stories.
Oh Drew, you’re so cynical.
If you can’t find the company you want to work for, consider building the one you want to work for. Some of the attributes you have highlighted are ones that drove me to leave strategy consulting and start my own company (passion is probably the #1 pre-requisite).
Yeah don’t think I haven’t thought about it lol. I just don’t feel like I’m there right now. If I ever do it, I want to do it on my own terms…not because it was forced upon me.
Hi Karlyn,
I know how you feel !
I have been through many jobs as well. The biggest challenge is finding one that has the best fit or balance to the mix. Sometimes, when asked questions like that in interviews it is like, well I like this position and the environment you described, knowing it isn’t the ideal one.
I do agree with Mark. It may be best in the short term to do independent work until then since you can control the work and make the final choices.
I am sure you will land soon.
Best Wishes !
–Eric
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