What makes an employer a great place to work?

Finding your next job can sometimes feel like a daunting prospect. On top of the time it takes you to source vacancies that suit your skills at locations within commuting distance from your home or that allow you to work from home – not to mention completing all the job application processes – how can you be sure that the company you’re applying to work at will be somewhere you’ll feel happy?

A good employer values and respects its staff, provides a safe working environment, helps individuals to develop their skills, be fully supportive and open to feedback – and rewards people for their hard work. Essentially, an organisation that’s completely committed to creating a great place to work for all its employees.

So, how do you go about finding an employer with these attributes? The answer is by doing some research. From information found on a recruitment agency website to the company’s own website, to insider information available via the likes of LinkedIn and Glassdoor, you can find useful intel that provides you with a pretty good idea of what a company is like to work for.

Here are some pointers to guide your research:

How much information does the job ad supply?

A well-written, detailed job spec demonstrates that a company or recruitment agency like Blue Arrow is truly invested in finding the right people. Going to a lot of effort to attract good candidates is a positive sign, suggesting that once you’ve taken on a role with the employer, they’ll invest in you as well.

What’s the company’s history?

How long has the employer been in business? How does it compare to other companies in its industry? Has it been in the news for legal or financial troubles recently? You’ll want to be sure that any business you join has a good reputation with aspirations to grow and flourish, providing its employees with stable jobs and possible long-term opportunities.

Do the company values match yours?

For example, do they champion things that are important to you – whether that’s diversity and inclusion, the environment and sustainability, or wellbeing and mental health. If an organisation’s values align with yours, chances are you’ll feel right at home.

What’s the company culture really saying?

Within any business, its culture is its personality, driving how it values and treats its employees. Review personal testimonials from current employees about what it’s really like to work there or have a look at Glassdoor reviews to provide you with some valuable company culture insight.

Can you fit your life around the hours you’ll be contracted to work?

How many work hours will you be expected to work in a ‘normal’ week? Is weekend or shift work required? Will you have to be ‘on-call’ when you’re not at work? Is there an opportunity for flexible working? How many paid holidays will you receive? The hours that you’ll be working at a job are important to consider for a healthy work-life balance and to fit around all the other parts of your life.

Does the company offer fair rates of pay?

You may be entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage so you should check that the compensation package meets this during the application process. Also, what perks would you be entitled to? For example, is there a contributory pension scheme, private healthcare or a rewards scheme? Will you get employee discounts on anything such as shopping, exercise classes or cinema tickets? Make sure you understand precisely what you’ll be entitled to and when – for example, will you have to complete a probationary period before being able to access any benefits?

Is it a viable commute for you?

However good the job sounds, if you’re not able to work remotely, be realistic about how much time you’re willing to spend commuting there and back every day. If you would need to drive, do you risk getting stuck in rush-hour traffic that will add extra time to your commute and see your stress levels soaring? Will the time you’ll spend travelling affect your commitments outside of work? Also factor in the cost of your commute when comparing pay rates across different jobs – fuel, parking costs or train fares can make a sizeable dent in your take-home pay.

What skills can you learn and will training be provided?

Will the company provide on-the-job training, workshops or structured courses? Will it give you the opportunity to grow your skillset or gain qualifications? The best employers offer a range of support to progress your career.

Setting aside some time to do a little research will help you decide whether a particular job really will suit you and if you’ll feel genuinely enthusiastic about working at that employer. This, of course, is something that benefits everyone – you’ll be happier in the role and feel inspired to do a great job and are likely to stay with the company for longer.

What’s more, if you search for a job via a reputable employment agency like Blue Arrow, you’ll know that their mission is to match the right candidate with the right role within a renowned company, taking the pressure off you.

Blue Arrow works with lots of sought-after employers including Unite Students, Compass Group, BT, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco, Hovis and Royal Mail, helping them find people with the right skills that suit all manner of roles – from catering to driving jobs, manufacturing to office or retail work and more. Just imagine which companies Blue Arrow could match you with and where your next job application could take you...

Great places to work

Blue Arrow understands the importance in finding a great company to work for to support you and your career. View a selection of fabulous companies who have lots of vacancies that you could apply for.

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