Career Prep 2009 Summer Blog

According to our CP fellows absolutely! In evaluating a company, an individual should look at the company’s mission and see how individuals at the company line up with mission. Next, if the people are who they say they are, see if you can fit in with the organization. Ask yourself, is this a place where I can look forward to going to every day of the week. Will I be happy coming here or will I regret going to work every day? These questions are critical because in a career you should align your passions and experiences into something that you want to do. Kendall Plain (Tulane University) I think one of the simplest ways to evaluate your company is to ask yourself, "Am I happy here”? Enjoying the work you do is one aspect of being happy in your position. However, there are many other aspects to consider, including how well you get along with others at the company and your level of comfort with the company culture. These two aspects may even be more important than the first. For example, if you are not completely thrilled with the actual work you are doing, but you love the people and thrive in the company culture, it may be possible to find another division within the company that will have projects better suited for your interests. However, if you love the work you are doing, but are not exactly friends with your colleagues and hate the cut-throat competition that dominates the office, the company is probably not the right place for you. These are some of the factors to consider when deciding about your fit with a company. Dupe Ajayi (The George Washington University)