How to tell if an employer is a good fit for you

We spend so much of our waking time at work that it is always helpful if your working environment is pleasurable - if not, it can lead to great unhappiness, not to mention depression and stress. One important aspect of a good working environment is your relationship with your boss. It may seem that, in today's society, that it is necessary to take whatever work is offered; however, long-term, you would be wise to look for other work if you think that your employer is a poor fit for you. Here are some ways to find out if your working environment is going to be right for you.

Before the interview:

Before you even apply for the job, do some basic research, initially on the Internet. Google the company name and your potential boss' and colleagues' names just to see what comes up. The chances are that there will be nothing untoward, but it is always worth a look. If you are familiar with the network in which the company works, then the chances are that you will know people who either work or have worked for the company, or who have had links with them in the past. Sound these people out. Ask what the company is like to work for in general, and more specifically, what your potential boss and colleagues are like to work with.

Of course, you should be careful to weed out anyone who has a grudge to bear - they will not be the most reliable of people. However, if there is anything you think is worth investigating, then you can always dig a bit deeper to see if anything else comes up. And whether you find out anything that could impact your decision, a thorough knowledge of the employer will stand you in good stead for the interview.

While preparing for the interview, it is also a good idea to list any questions that you can think of. Although it is you that is being interviewed, you will also have the opportunity to ask relevant questions about your potential management, training and even about the ethics of the company if that is something that concerns you.

During the interview:

Once you are in the interview, you will have the opportunity to gauge whether you think you will like your potential employer or not. Be careful to ensure whether the person interviewing you is the person that you will be working for - it may be that someone else has taken on the responsibility of hiring. If that is the case, try to find out, without being confrontational, why you are not being interviewed by your potential boss. It may be that he/she is not highly considered within the company, or it may be that he/she is just not that bothered about who works for them. Then again, it could simply be that the person in question is on holiday or off sick. You may have to rely on your intuition here. However, if you are concerned, you could ask for the opportunity to speak to your potential boss in person, especially if you are offered the job.

You may find that most of your questions are answered during the course of the interview. If they are not, however, then make sure that you refer to your prepared list and ask any questions that you think are relevant. Ask about things like management style - are you going to be part of a team or expected to work alone? Is training included as part of the promotion process? All of this will help you to get an idea of whether the job is something that is going to be a good move for you.

It is easy to be judgemental when meeting someone for the first time, and they could later become a close friend. However, the chances are that your intuition is correct, so if you are disturbed in any way by the person that interviews you and are concerned that your relationship with him/her will be difficult, then you may want to consider looking elsewhere. On the other hand, if you are interested in the job, follow up with some form of communication after the interview to reiterate that you are interested.

In the first weeks of the job:

It may be that you are offered the job and you decide to take it, sure that you are going to be happy in your new job. However, within a couple of weeks of starting, you feel uncomfortable and are not at all convinced that you have made the right decision. Most companies have a probationary period in any case, so it is probably worth sticking it out for a month or so to see if things get better. If you feel that you can, broach the subject with your boss and see what the response is - it may be that he/she has no idea that you are unhappy with the way things are going.

If things don't appear to be about to change, however, then perhaps you need to make the decision to look for something else before it is too late. Being stuck in a job that is not the right fit for you can lead to you getting stuck in a rut and, a few months down the line, you will be so miserable that you don't have the confidence to look for another one.