2020 was a year where the way a company treats its employees was transparent, and has left more people thinking about the kind of organisation they want to work as part of in the future.
What defines a good company will vary from person to person, but according to Great-Places-to-Work,
companies with good cultures typically share 6 elements – community, fairness, trustworthy management, innovation, trust and caring.
Of course, what defines a company as ‘great’ will differ from person to person so it’s important to assess what matters to you. This may include:
- Compensation & Benefits
- Work-life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Senior Management / CEO
- Business Outlook
How Do You Find Good Companies?
The playing field has really levelled when it comes to finding data on organisations and their culture. Today there are sites like Glassdoor, Seek and Indeed where past employees can post reviews on the organisation. These may give insights into pay, management, interview and selection processes, work-life balance, culture, career development and more. You can even compare two organisations.
There are lists such as:
- Great Places to Work – 50 Best Workplaces Australia
- Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For 2020
- The Australian HR Awards 2020 Finalists
- Top 100 Graduate Employers and Future Leaders Competition
There are also specialist categories for organisations who are great for diversity, flexibility, graduates, health and wellbeing, learning and development or ethical jobs.
Culture500 compares different cultural dimensions of top companies based on Glassdoor reviews and offers unique data-based visualisations.
OUR ADVICE! Read everything, including what the company says on their website, how past employees and customers review them, their social media pages, any news articles on the business and their annual reports. Talk with people who have worked for them but keep in mind that these are just one individual’s opinion. The more information you collect, the more rounded your picture will be.
What Types of Information Should You Explore When You Are Looking?
When it comes time to gather and assess company data the dimensions you explore should align with your priorities and values. For one person a culture that values agility may be important, for someone else they may may seek an organisation that values stability and security.
Some of the common things that contribute to a good company includes their workplace culture, salaries and compensation, the company’s approach to employee development, flexibility and work-life balance, diversity and inclusion and their prospects. Ask yourself how your findings relate to your own personal values – are you in alignment?
Finding Out More During The Interview
The interview forum is an important opportunity to ask important questions about the organisation. You need to ask questions that dig into what is most important to you.
For example, if you really value an organisation that is inclusive you might say something like: “The business highlights diversity, really valuing everyone’s differences as a core value, which really resonates for me. Can you give an example of where you have seen those values in action?”
If you really love learning, “Can you tell me a little bit about how the business supports individual professional development and career development?”
How to Target a Great Organisation
Great companies are often popular hirers. To make sure you are competitive for the role, check out our video on what to do before you apply to your dream company.