Salary is not everything. Salary vs working environment: what to look for when choosing an employer?
Salary is one of the important aspects, but see also our other benefits.
In the article you will learn:
The labour market is constantly on the move, and the global pandemic has had an impact on it. According to an analysis by the largest job portal, the focus on online sales has resulted in most job offers currently coming from the IT sector. For many, however, financial remuneration remains the main criterion when choosing a job. The salary is undoubtedly one of the first priorities, but there are other criteria that should be considered. Sometimes they can compensate for a smaller salary. What to look for when choosing an employer and why is the salary not the only criterion to decide on?
The days when people worked twelve hours a day without access to basic human needs are thankfully gone. Today we can choose from plenty of job offers and compare them. Many companies are competing with each other to provide their employees with better conditions, more interesting remuneration or benefits. We at msg life Slovakia are no exception.
That’s why we regularly update the programme of employee benefits based on the preferences of our employees. We’ve also written a list of the main criteria you should keep in mind when choosing a job. If you have a few interesting job offers and you can’t decide between them, focus on these key points to help you make the right choice.
Job evaluation
One of the important criteria when starting a new job is undoubtedly the salary. The function of a wage is not only economic – to provide finances for living – but also psychological – the amount of salary socially integrates a person into a certain group and is perceived as an appreciation of their own value. Good companies therefore have a clear and fair pay policy for all employees.
A motivating bonus to the salary can be various financial allowances that companies occasionally provide. These include, for example, a performance bonus, a personal bonus, a year-end bonus, a financial benefit for long-serving employees, a bonus for a special occasion such as a wedding, a reward for referring a new colleague or to cover the cost of a hobby. While you won’t see this money in your account every month, it can help you during more financially challenging times and life events such as Christmas and the birth of a child.
Pleasant workplace environment
The kind of workplace environment an employer provides is one of the important factors that people consider when choosing a career or staying in a job. The workplace environment affects your mood, feelings and performance, but it can also affect your health. Employers should therefore focus on factors such as noise, sufficient amount of natural lighting, proper lighting, microclimate and so on.
When choosing a new workplace, look not only at these standards, but also at whether the space is somehow special or above-standard. It is a sign that management cares about its workers. It can be details such as colour of the walls, fit balls in the office, plenty of greenery, good drinking water, roasted coffee or fresh fruit for all.
Space for rest and relaxation
Work performance goes hand in hand with relaxation, no matter if it’s a programming, marketing or management position. All require a certain amount of creativity and work commitment. In the relaxation or chill out area, employees have the opportunity to take a break from work for a while, enjoy a coffee and chat with colleagues. Relax in the so-called soft zones with furniture that differs from the one in the office – with soft chairs and seating bags, has a positive effect on the body and the psyche.
Game rooms, fitness centres or outdoor areas that offer a pleasant environment and active relaxation are also important for the mental well-being of employees. In sedentary jobs, it is not uncommon today to be able to book a massage at work or use a Multi Sport card, which will cover the cost of, for example, wellness, but also healthy benefits and programmes for better work-life balance. They are also a prevention against presenteeism – the phenomenon when a person is present at the workplace, but his worries and personal or even health problems do not allow him to concentrate on his work.
Pleasant and cohesive team
If you get a chance to see the work area during a job interview, try to notice the employees as well as the work environment. How they look at work, what position they sit in or whether they communicate with each other can say a lot about the workplace environment. Nobody wants to work in a team where colleagues look like they are not enjoying their work. Another sign of good HR management is the organisation of joint events and corporate teambuildings, the aim of which is to strengthen the team and give them the opportunity to get to know each other in other ways.
Good relations between supervisors and employees can in turn be fostered by praise or recognition from management, as well as occasional attention or a small gift for a job well done. These are all signs that the company really values and cares about its employees. The relationship of supervisor to subordinates even appears in the preferences of motivational factors in the first places together with the salary.
Opportunities for personal and professional growth
Few people can imagine a job in which they will do the same activities over and over again for years and not have the opportunity to grow professionally. According to surveys, if an employee feels stagnant, it increases the likelihood that they will leave their job. Fortunately, many companies are aware of this and therefore offer training and development to employees. The most common forms include language courses or training in the chosen field. Both sides will benefit.
In the context of career planning, you may also find a personal development plan in companies. In addition to formal education, it includes a wide range of activities such as coaching, mentoring, self-learning, project work, extension and enrichment of work. World-famous technology companies are using methods such as selling first-hand knowledge, training of newcomers right on the spot and even the use of artificial intelligence to train their employees.
Contact with the customer
Many service employees have contact with customers on a daily basis and, conversely, there are jobs where employees never even see their customers. Both extremes have their advantages and disadvantages. Daily contact with the customer can make you prefer the opposite, and zero contact with the client often leads to unfulfilled requirements.
Many companies are therefore taking the golden mean, if their focus allows it. They meet the customer at the beginning when specifying the requirements and then see them only when presenting the first suggestions. The employees are then in contact with the client only at the final stage, when the project is handed over and the user is being trained. If the client is abroad, this often means you get the opportunity to visit interesting cities with the cost of the business trip fully reimbursed.
Multidisciplinary nature of the work
To work in a desired field is a big dream for many. However, any field, no matter how much it interests us, can become less attractive over time. Especially if we do it every day without major changes. That’s why it’s an advantage if you have the opportunity to work in your field, but also to gain insight into other professions. You’ll get a different perspective on the problem, avoid routine and come into contact with new staff.
You can often learn a lot. You never know what experience you will need in the future and how you can use it. So if you have the opportunity to work in a team with colleagues from a variety of professions, don’t worry and use this opportunity to your advantage. Maybe you will get inspired about where you’d like to move forward in your career.
Company identity
If you know what you want to do in your career, you should also have an overview of the companies that are active in that area of business. It’s not just the job title that will make you happy, but also the identity of the company. This means the vision of the company, the values it holds; the norms and processes or habits that define its corporate culture. Simply, you have to feel that you want to be another member of the team and you want to work for this “brand”.
Social networks such as Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn, where companies like to post behind-the-scenes information from the work environment or a company blog, will tell you more. Sometimes you can also learn more about a company’s reputation from discussants on various forums. All of this will help you build a complete picture of your future employer. Alternatively, ask if you can come in for two or three hours to see how the normal working day is going and if you’ll be on the same page with the team.
All this and more is what we offer you at msg life Slovakia. Check out our latest job offers, don’t hesitate to send us your CV and join our team!
- Java vs C# – comparison of programming languages (2024)
- Interview questions for the prospective employee and the employer with answers
- Generations X, Y, Z and Baby boomers in the workplace: how to work with them?
- Why soft skills are important
- Workplace bullying: bossing, mobbing. How to fight them?
- Programming is the future! Learn to code with programming courses online
