Hello, I am fairly new to the job market. I recently started learning there are other things that one may look for in a job besides salary, for example paid time off, pantry vouchers, career development programs, among others. I guess this may vary from company to company and from country to country. But I would like to know, what do you usually look for in a job? As in what's more valuable to you. I am currently looking to change jobs and would like to know which benefits I could look for in a job besides the ones mentioned on this post.
Besides a salary, which other benefits do you look for in a job?
maggiewolff·Nov 25, 2021maggiewolff·Nov 25, 2021I look at 1) total compensation but also a base salary that will meet or improve my lifestyle 2) paid time off, I would have a hard time adjusting to less than 4 weeks of vacation time 3) health insurance coverage, I've noticed in my city some carriers don't have as many in-network options so depending on what they offer, I could be paying a lot more out of pocket or have to switch doctors 4) previously tuition reimbursement was important, especially without a long window for the payback penalty but I'm nearing the end of graduate school so not as important 5) 401K match Depending on what is or isn't offered for 3, 4, and 5, I would adjust my total comp expectations.
Hours, flexibility and paid leave allocation. Anything else is just sprinkles for me.
Career development opportunities (ie paying for conferences, online courses/workshops, executive coaching, leadership development, etc) are one of my tops, since it tells me whether they're willing to invest in their employees' growth long-term.Parental leave is another one, even though I don't have kids or plan to -- it's a way for me to gauge how well they treat/prioritize their employees and their lives outside of work. It's a benefit that applies to life outside of the office vs something like weekly catered lunch, which is only applicable in-office while you're working.
Woah I never thought of taking a look at the parental leave as I am not planning on having kids. But it makes sense that it is a way to gauge life outside of the office and how employees are treated. Thank you for your input
I look at the total compensation package - including stock/equity and bonuses. Bottom line: we all have bills to pay. Then I look at: health benefits (cost for myself and the family), paid time off, holidays (to me, this is an indicator of work life balance), 401K/retirement, paid maternity/paternity (gives a good sense of how work life balance is addressed IMO), stipends for things like working from home, cell phone use, and professional/personal education. I have noticed more companies (startups mostly) offering a weekly lunch stipend while folks are working from home, as well as a "home office setup" budget. One company even had a "travel budget" for remote team members so they could plan travel to the home office if they were so inclined). While some benefits may or may not be useful (e.g. I'm not planning on returning to school, but knowing there is a benefit for learning tells me the company is willing to invest in growth and development), you'll have to weigh the value of each and if those are indicators of a company culture that matches your values.
In addition to the great answers here, I'd add work culture and growth opportunities through supportive teams/management. I can't overstate how helpful it has been to have really incredible managers at a younger age, because as I have grown in my career so have they. Not only does a good manager make your day to day better and help you excel within the company, but they also create a supportive network as your career continues to develop. You could ask questions like who you'll be reporting to, what their management style is, what opportunities for growth have looked like at the company, etc. Of course, only as much as you feel comfortable, but for me these have been helpful when interviewing to understand more about team dynamics.
Hi, what kind of qualities are good to look for in a good manager? Especially for people starting out
It's somewhere to be self-reflective to know your own needs/strengths/weaknesses and try to plan around that. If you're someone who is starting out and you'd benefit from a bit of coaching or mentorship, you might specifically seek a boss supportive of growth. You might ask questions like "what's your leadership style, how often would we check in, how do you generally provide feedback (weekly? annually? - this can be huge if you're looking to learn from them) or how have you supported growth when you've recognized talent within previous teams?" etc.For me, I look for things like curiosity and self-reflection: when they answer a question, does it sound as though it's coming from them, or more of a 'canned' response that doesn't feel personal? I seek out a manager style that is open in providing regular feedback but non-hierarchical, and this isn't for everyone. I prefer to work independently, and I seek out company cultures that support individual ownership (i.e. where I can check in for brainstorming, but they're not looking for me to work closely with them day-to-day or submit work for approval). Hope that helps :)
I read this comment a few days ago and asked these kind of questions in my last interview, it helped me get a better sense on what a regular day looks like at the job and if people are willing to share knowledge, especially for someone early on their career. Tysm!
Beyond base salary, I would look at: bonus compensation, equity compensation, long-term savings programs (for example 401K, employee share purchase program), flexible work arrangements, vacation days, benefits coverage, learning & development programs, parental leave policies, severance policies, management training, paid conferences/events. If you need any help with contract review or compensation negotiation, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] :)
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