Shadowing your Potential Employer

http://in.gov/idoc/images/shadow_hands

You may remember my previous blog “Is your Dream Job Seeming More Like a Nightmare?” If you haven’t, you may want to scroll down to the bottom of the blog page, click on older post, and read. But if you don’t have time for that, here is the brief synopsis.   It’s about making sure that you choose the right career path. Although you cannot avoid choosing the wrong career, you can try preventative ways such as aptitude test. (i.e. TypeFocus and Strong Interests aptitude tests) Now that you have found a good career path, it’s time to see if the companies or positions that you have been interviewing for are a good match.

 

 

While looking for your new career, it’s hard to assess what company is a good match. Asking questions during a face to face interview is a good first step, but are the employers able to answer the questions that you didn’t think to ask? Try asking your interviewer for a more untraditional approach. If you find that the company best meets what you are looking for during the interview, ask them if it would be possible to set up a shadow day if selected for the next step. It may seem unorthodox, but by observing the day to day operations of an organization, you are able to ensure that the company will be a good fit.  This will also provide some early training that will give you leverage when starting.

 

 

If you are already with a company that you love, but are interested in joining another department within the organization, you can also set up a shadow day. Seeing the job as an outsider looking in, may not allow you to see the true components of the job and it may not be what you expected. It will also give you some leverage when interviewing for that department. The employer knows that you are serious about pursuing the opportunity and that you took time out of your schedule to learn more.

 

 

Overall, it’s imperative that you find out what company is best for you. After all, you spend a third of your life at work? . Not only will you be able to see if the company is a match, but the employee can see your abilities to work in their environment. It is a win win for both parties.

daja.pope@mattressfirm.com