While a big salary can be attractive, many digital marketing professionals want more from a job.
They want to work for a company that commits to certain values such as sustainability or diversity and inclusion, prioritizes the wellbeing of its employees and invests in a career, not just a role.
Alongside the company’s values and ethics, employees want a company culture they can fit into. This is especially true when you consider that the average U.S. adult is estimated to spend 90,000 hours at work. That’s one-third of their lives!
But how do you go about finding a company that commits to the values you care about and also has a company culture you will enjoy working in?
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1) Research the company
The first place to start is to get an understanding of the company you’re considering working for.
Review the company’s mission, vision, and core values on its website and marketing materials like annual reports. These should reflect their commitment to certain ethics, social responsibilities, and long-term goals.
Here’s an example from IKEA’s website that clearly outlines its business objectives and ethos.
Screenshot from IKEA’s website
You should also search for any news stories to see if there have been issues with staff country wise email marketing list or other controversies. Or conversely, has the company been praised for work initiatives or its company culture on a platform like LinkedIn?
Large corporations or public companies often have financial information available online so you can see performance and growth. It’s also worth looking at competitors to see if a company has a viable future and to get insight into the industry.
Top tip: Look for awards such as “Best Places to Work” or certifications like B Corp, which indicate high standards for social and environmental performance while Deloitte rates companies for excellence in business performance, strategy, and innovation, like DMI.
” Although we would like to believe that everybody goes to work for money, people want to feel that they’re going into a company that’s adding value. They want to feel that they’re adding purpose and working for an employer that has the right ethics. ”
– Terry Payne, Global Managing Director at Aspire Recruitment
Review company messaging & content
You can tell a lot about a company from its social media presence, website, and other content.
Reviewing these instagram, social media and contact center. channels can tell you something about the brand’s personality, the way they engage with customers, industry collaborations, and any initiatives – marketing and otherwise.
Companies with strong, positive values often promote topics like diversity, employee welfare, sustainability, and community engagement.
Here’s an example from Google – a company that has featured for 15 years in the top 10 of Glassdoor’s ‘100 Best Places to Work’ awards. From scrolling through its feed on X you can see the issues it promotes such as climate change and veterans in business to tie in with Veteran’s Day.
Check employer review sites
Employer review sites are a great way to get insight into what employees – past and present – think about the company.
Use platforms like Glassdoor and Indeed to read employee reviews and ratings, The Muse offers career and search advice, Comparably allows you to italy numbers compare companies, brands, and salaries, while Vault uses annual surveys of employees and interns to rate employers.
Insights from these sites can reveal how well the company adheres to its values, especially regarding work-life balance, inclusion, and transparency. You should also look into company policies such as parental leave, mental health support, and flexible work options.