FDM Group, whose mission is to bring people and technology together by providing services in the business sector, reveal the questions you should be asking your future employer.
Against the backdrop of rising inflation, and soaring prices of food, energy, and other essential goods and services, entering the workforce during this time is set to bring new challenges.
With this, prospective employees are seeking good pay, additional benefits, and high job satisfaction – looking to potential employers to ease the burden of the cost of living crisis.
So, if you’re one of the many individuals looking for job opportunities, or re-entering the workforce, what questions should you ask your future potential employer?
FDM comments:
“As the cost of living becomes more prominent for workers across the country, many are returning to work or seeking new roles – and looking for additional benefits, as well as higher pay. For organisations, it’s an important time to demonstrate company values and exercise empathy-led initiatives.”
“For the individual, this is the time to identify what you are looking for in your new role and ask important questions. While pay is important, it’s worthwhile understanding what other benefits the business offers, as well as long-term training and development opportunities that can help you progress in your career.”
#1 – What support are you giving to your employees?
With the rising costs becoming increasingly prevalent, ask potential employers what they are doing to support their workers. This is the time for organisations to showcase how well they handle times of crisis and how empathetic they are to their employees.
As many organisations also feel the impact, it’s not realistic for every business to offer a pay rise, but there are additional ways to lessen the burden and show appreciation for workers. For instance, a one-off payment, subsidised meals at work, access to financial advisors, or the option to sell back unused holiday entitlement are all helpful alternatives to hefty pay rises. In asking this, you may also find that some businesses are giving pay rises across the board, so make sure you have these questions answered before you get too far down the hiring process.
#2 – Is there room for negotiation in the salary?
As pay will ultimately determine how burdensome the cost of living crisis will be, it’s essential to identify if moving to a new role will be worth your while. When seeking a new job, look at your current salary and consider the sum you would be happy with – factoring in rising costs, the industry standard, and the level of expertise you can bring to the table.
While most roles will likely have a set salary in mind, ask if there is room for negotiation. You may love a role but find the pay to be lower than what you are looking for. Therefore, it’s important to ask if there is potential to negotiate the salary to something you and your employer are both comfortable with.
#3 – What benefits are currently available to workers?
There are numerous employee perks that can be offered to staff, depending on the size and flexibility of the business. Working for an organisation that offers these benefits can help alleviate some everyday costs. For example, many companies offer complimentary meals, gym passes, transport loans, and even wellness allowances.
Depending on your needs, for instance, if you work remotely or in the office, knowing what benefits you can receive can be useful in measuring whether the company is a good fit, as well as what can help you monetarily in making your final decision.
#4 – Does this position offer upward mobility and training?
Knowing if a position has upward mobility is important in determining if you can see yourself at a company for a long period of time and if you will be able to progress quickly. Upward progression is also what ultimately allows you to progress in your career and earn further pay rises.
In essence, the more room there is to grow in a role, the faster you can alleviate the burden of rising costs. With this, identifying training opportunities is paramount. Businesses that offer training programmes lay down the road to progress in the role and receive promotions. Training also shows that an organisation is willing to invest in you and your future – which will help you see further financial gains in the future.
