Reading done ✓, portfolio prepared ✓ credentials polished. 😎

You’re ready to unleash warfare and bombard the tech world with your CV.

However, I don’t recommend you do that. Instead, do your homework and narrow down your options.

You need to be thinking about the kind of company you want to work for to start your career in the right way.

1. The First Step to Start in the Job Market

First of all, ask yourself, where do you want to work?

When looking for your first job, set criteria, and keep in mind the things that are important for you. Afterall, you're likely going to spending five days a week there for a certain number of years.

We all have an image of the ideal company in mind, often it's something like the dynamic environments we see promoted by leading tech companies.

But what do these companies have in common that makes them so appealing?

Let’s discuss some of the positives that make companies (not just in tech) great places to work.

2. Choosing the Ideal Company

There are a number of factors to consider, such as observing what the company's institutional policy has to offer for your personal and professional growth.

Furthermore, consider whether the company's mission and values are aligned with yours. Values are the pillars of an institution; they represent what the company expects in terms of attitude, commitment, and responsibility.

That’s the sort information you should find out, read the job advert carefully and do some research before applying. Have all your questions ready for the HR staff you initially make contact with ahead of any interview.

A contract works two ways and it’s important for both parties to aim for mutual benefit. Afterall, you have worked hard to acquire your coding skills and good coders are very much sought after. So, ensure you leverage your abilities with confidence!

The following are the sort of questions you should think about.

3. Essential Things that a Great Company Offers:

3.1 Free Training

Big tech companies like Google offer free training for their employees in subjects that are a lot broader than you might expect. They don't just focus on improving your tech savviness, but also organise internal trainings on problem solving, emotional intelligence and negotiation abilities. [1]

This strategy is a two-way street because it brings positive results for both sides. Whilst companies gain well-rounded and skill-beefy employees, individuals have the chance to constantly improve, take up new courses, and learn things that boost performance.

3.2 Regular Feedback

Receiving feedback on the positive and negative points of your work at the end of a set period of time, usually a month, is essential for professional growth.

This makes it possible to analyze where and when you’re performing best, visualize your mistakes and draw up a plan on how to correct them.

Touching base regularly with your line manager also lets you communicate your career goals and highlight yours concerns.

3.3 Recognition

When you've caught up with your boss and the feedback is nothing less than excellent, how should you expect to be recognized?

Professional recognition can mean a lot of things and may just look like a compliment, promotion, or financial return. But they all matter.

When done right, it gives you the feeling that you're doing what your meant to be doing and are on the right track to deliver your maximum potential.

Do ask in the interview, how feedback is handled at the prospective company and how it impacts on personal career progression.

3.4 Favorable Working Conditions

Working is considered by many an essential condition, not only because of the financial return but because of how it dignifies us.

With this in mind, it is also very important to analyze the conditions on offer by the company to assure we're entering into a healthy working environment. These conditions and the company’s respect for its employees are recurrent themes of intense debates, again, think about what's right for you. Life is too short to settle on anything less and trust me, there are plenty of good companies out there and it is worth the wait (finances permitting!).

Doing a quick bit of research online on a site like Glassdoor.com can shed light on what’s expected of employees such as the amount of overtime expected and remuneration.

Don’t take anything you read for face value though, rather do your prior research and focus on any concerns or questions in your interview.

3.5 Quality Equipment

Performance is impaired without quality equipment, especially in an area focused on technology.

The company must be committed to providing equipment that offers viable usability to employees, so that they can deliver their services without problems that may result from bad equipment.

That's non-negotiable, although I have heard of companies that have asked their employees to bring and use their own equipment.

Little is more frustrating than a slow, outdated computer when coding your programs. Coding is tough enough already!

3.5 Flexibility in your work

Working 8 hours a day from 9 to 5 can feel quite rigid, making it harder to fit certain activities around your job. Some employers offer flexible working hours, meaning that employees can come to work earlier or later than the set time.

In addition, working from home has become increasingly common among companies, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The practice allows for even greater flexibility and cost reduction for both the employee saving on commute costs as well as companies saving on office space.

Studies have shown that companies that offer at least one home office day a week have more motivated employees. [2]

If that suits you, either ask or negotiate after your interview. It is not actually always a given.

References

[1] https://www.businessinsider.fr/us/google-11-amazing-classes-that-google-employees-can-take-2012-3 [2] https://www.smallbizgenius.net/by-the-numbers/remote-work-statistics/#gref