Financial professionals have a wide range of opportunities when it comes to places to work, but how should you evaluate a firm before accepting an offer? The answer will vary from pro to pro based on personal preferences, but here are some things to consider before you sign on the dotted line.
Does the Company Have Visionary Leadership?
Complacency is an easy trap to fall into over time, but you don’t have to settle for an organization that has been doing things the same way for 30 years. Look up company leaders on LinkedIn and see if they publish articles in financial publications, if they create insightful articles for the firm’s newsletter or if they publish their own content. Do they constantly strive to be more efficient? Do they challenge the current model? If the company cultivates thought leaders, they probably value innovation and new ideas, and those are values you can get behind.
How Does the Company Invest in Technology?
Finance technology evolves at a rapid pace. Companies that fail to invest in new technologies will quickly fall behind their competitors. The right tools help to facilitate efficiency and accuracy, and it is important to get a feel for how the firm chooses to invest in software and technology before you accept an offer. You don’t necessarily want a firm that chases after every new shiny object in finance tech, but you do want to find a firm that watches the software market closely, updates their systems fairly regularly and chooses the best tools for their team.
What Happens After Onboarding?
A successful onboarding process ultimately yields successful employees. Make sure to ask questions about that process, including, “What type of training and development is available after the onboarding and ramp-up process is complete?” Organizations that invest in ongoing training and development care about the long-term success of their employees. Keeping up-to-date in finance is critical in order to stay relevant and maintain certifications. Choose a company that values the ongoing training and development of their people.
How Were You Treated Through the Hiring Process?
Remember the hiring process is not only a time for potential employers to evaluate you; it’s also a time for you to evaluate potential employers. Look at more than just the salary and benefits package they are offering. Consider the culture and values of the organization and think about how you were treated through the hiring process. If the process was confusing, complicated, disorganized or dragged on for much longer than you were initially told, take pause. Organizations that aren’t organized, communicative and transparent in the hiring process are likely not organized, communicative and transparent with their employees.
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