This article is sponsored by Vector Marketing.
When it comes to accepting an internship or job offer, it’s easy to see the salary or the brand-name and sign on the dotted line. However, before you put pen to paper and make it official, it’s important to think about what this company is giving you for all of your work. This doesn’t just include cool perks or money; it’s also about what the company values at its core.
Looking for the perfect company sounds easy in theory but is way harder in practice. To help, we talked to Jake Bergman, a college student and successful rep at Vector Marketing’s training program, about the most five important things he’s learned to look for in any company before you accept an offer.
1. Does the Company Make Sure You’re Set Up for Success?
Some people thrive just being thrown into virtually any situation, but if you’re like most of us, you need a little support when you’re getting warmed up to a new work environment. That extra help at the beginning can be crucial to long-term success.
When Jake arrived at Vector Marketing, for example, he was given a ton of support and mentorship to get started, including training seminars, team meetings, conferences and prep meet-ups to make sure he was confident, despite the fact he’d never worked in sales before.
Whether a company wants you to swim on your own from the get-go, or gives you a lot of hand-holding at the start, double-check that you know what you’re getting yourself into before you dive in. No one likes surprises.
2. Is the Company Filled With People You Could Hang Out With All Day?
The average American spends over one-third of their weekdays at work, so shouldn’t you like the people you’re dealing with all day?
When you go in for interviews or a company tour, talk to as many people as possible. Are these people you’d hang out with outside the office? At the very least, do you think they’ll be fun and easy to work with? Don’t underestimate the amount of time you’ll be spending with coworkers.
Jake’s formed life-long friendships with his coworkers at Vector, and while you don’t have to live the dream and become besties with everyone in the office, you should at least enjoy every person’s company.
3. Does the Company Give You Transferable Skills?
Regardless of where you work, you want to feel like you’re walking away with new skill sets you can bring to the table in other office environments. The next time you’re looking at a particular company or job, ask yourself: “What could I take away from this role and apply to an entirely new role?”
Jake, for example, thinks the sales skills he’s gained at Vector can apply to virtually any career. “No matter what profession, you will always be selling something, whether it is a product, service, idea, or yourself,” he explains. “Vector gives its representatives the opportunity to gain these vital sales skills early on, and I am extremely grateful for that!”
4. How Does the Company Show Its Employees That It Cares?
While not every company has the budget for 10 ping pong tables and free lunch every day, does this company do its best to illustrate to its employees that it appreciates the work they do?
For instance, at Vector, Jake is able to work at his own pace to become financially secure while also traveling around the world and selling a product he believes in. Not too shabby.
5. Does the Company Actually Challenge You?
At the end of the day, you should go into any job feeling challenged and excited to tackle what you don’t know. The best companies are those that leave you feeling stoked, not terrified, to take on new work.
Jake himself actually had zero sales experience before his time at Vector, but its team reminded him to be fueled by his lack of experience, not intimidated by it. “Vector does a phenomenal job of ensuring that every rep will be successful,” he says.
Yes, it’s tempting to sign onto a gig if you really need a job or internship or really, really like your salary. But by giving some more thought to what you’ll be getting for putting in all those hours, you’ll walk away with the best experience possible.
Like what you see? You can apply to work at Vector Marketing now.
