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HOW TO GET HIRED
The Business Careers Handbook 2020
Researching and choosing the right organisation
Once you have chosen a specialisation, then your next decision – which organisation to apply for – can fast become a vexing one. Even if you have a strong sense of where you’d like to work, it pays to ensure that your decision is a carefully considered one. After all, why shouldn’t you reward yourself with the best possible start to your career?
There is always scope for change – you may just need to take a backwards or sideways step, depending on the stage at which you choose to switch. For example, it can often be easier to make a switch in the earlier stages of your career.
To help you make the best choice, we’ve compiled a list of seven key questions every business graduate should be able to answer when considering a prospective organisation.
The importance of culture in an organisation cannot be overstated. After all, there are few other environments in which you’ll work as intensely or closely with other groups of people, so it pays to ensure that you fit in and feel supported.
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How large is the organisation?
Organisations range in size from tiny boutique outfits that tend to specialise in niche areas, such as small accounting firms, to global giants like PwC, which employs more than 223,000 people in 157 countries. There are pros and cons to working in organisations at either end of the spectrum. While some may be drawn to the scale, stability and career advancement opportunities offered by medium and large organisations, others will prefer smaller organisations where they can focus on specific topics of interest, develop close client relationships and potentially enjoy a more close-knit culture. Smaller organisations may have a faster growth trajectory given their ‘all hands on deck’ approach. Of course, there are few merits that are reliably exclusive to firms of any size, so the scale of any specific firm should be considered only insofar as it might impact on your career satisfaction and advancement.
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Will you be working in a specialisation that interests you?
As you’ve seen in the first section of this guide, there are many areas in which you could choose to specialise. If you have a strong sense of which specialisation interests you most, then it’s worth seeking out organisations that will cultivate your passion. It’s also important to consider whether your personality fits the specialisation. Bear in mind that it may be challenging to switch specialisations once you commit to one. This doesn’t mean it can’t be done! www.gradaustralia.com.au
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What’s the culture of the organisation like?
To properly evaluate the culture of an organisation, you’ll need to ask a variety of questions: How competitive is the organisation? What sort of people work there? What is expected of graduate employees? What are the people like? How many hours a week will I work? Organisations and even individual teams within organisations also vary widely in their value systems. Some may value individualism, conspicuous effort or reaching monetary targets; others may value employee and client satisfaction, work/life balance or community engagement. Where possible, try to secure a position in an organisation whose values are consistent with yours.
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Will working at this organisation help you in your career? On average, people change jobs between 11 and 12 times during their careers. So, it pays to consider where you want to be not just for the next few years but in a decade or so. If you have a strong sense of your career goals, then you should ensure the firm you’re interested in will help you meet them. This might mean checking that you’ll learn the right skills, focus on the right issues, gain the right experience or network with the right people.
Some firms have established professional development initiatives, especially those with structured graduate programs. Just be certain that your career will grow at your target organisation, and not be restricted because of it. Remember, you should always choose an organisation that facilitates the
