Things to consider before applying or signing an offer

Question

When you apply for companies, what is on your checklist before you actually send them an application/resume/cover letter?

I know that we can all go see if the company is on Fortune 500 or any other ranks, but those ranking system cannot tell me too much.

I sometimes get good vibes when I visit companies, but that also does not tell me too much about the company until I actually work there for few months.

I'm just wondering how other people judge some companies as "good" or "bad" to apply for. Or, I want to know things that people do to research a company.

Additionally, when you get multiple offers, how do you decide which one to accept?

Edit The main reason I ask these questions is because as a student who is looking forward to graduation and going through the process of job hunting, interviews, and signing offers, I believe this is something very crucial for students. I've actually asked many students the same questions, but the answers did not convince me. Hence, I thought it would be really great to ask the Stackoverflow community because people here are full of experiences and probably gone through the process multiple times.

Answers I get from students are...

salary, location, project, potential to growth, health benefits, past experiences (through internship), and industry (such as wireless technology, web services, firmwares, etc.)

Answer 1

When applying, I ship my resume to just about anyone who is in the kind of business I want to work in. As long as I haven't heard anything negative about them. Everything else you can learn once you get an interview... it never hurts to have more people looking at your resume.

As for accepting offers, I haven't had hardly any experience with that. Both of my post-college jobs I have sort of "hand selected" the companies as being the only ones offering what I wanted, so there wasn't much to decide on (i.e. no competing offers makes the choice real easy).

I guess my advice would be "go with your gut." You'll know which sounds like a better place to work or which is offering cooler projects. Also, of course, talk to people... but usually there isn't a lot of extra information to be found and it comes down to if they seem like a good place to work for and if they have the work you want.

Answer 2

For multiple offers, its going to really depend on the person and the company.

Perhaps you are career oriented, so having opportunity to move up the ladder is important. Or perhaps you are more concerned with opportunity to get lots of experience in a variety of areas.

Again, it really depends on you, and the job, so I would say, I would pick the best job that best fits what I want to do.

Answer 3

It's not scientific, but I look for:

• Clarity of purpose for the team or company
• Company history, background, industry (measuring for strengths)
• Can I see myself working there?
• Will this help my career?

The last one is/was generally the most important one to me.

Answer 4

getting multiple offers gives you a great bargaining position. Tell each company that you'd love to work for them, but company x is offering you an extra 10k plus a weeks more holiday.

Answer 5

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Joel Test, one factor you may want to consider in comparing options.

I would also consider reputation and name-recognition. An advantage of bigger companies is that you get more name recognition when you later apply elsewhere, especially if you may one day move to another area of the US. For example, when I applied to grad school in the US, I am sure that the fact that I previously worked at Intel (rather than at some local software shop) made a difference.

Answer 6

I would do a google and try to get as much information as i can about that company. Check the company's website product (if you dare :P) and get a feel of what the company (mission & value page, blablabla), it's people and it's product is going to be like.

Then ask around your friends developers, hr, etc and see if they know anything or hear anything at all about this company.

if those doesn't turn you off, it doesn't hurt to go for the interview, this is probably the most important part where you can ask a lot of questions and check out the working environment, people, etc.

Then at the end, it pretty much depends on your goals, and how this company can support it, i.e. products, languages, salary.

Answer 7

My first and, usually, last criterion for choosing a job:

• Will I learn from the people there?

The average job in this industry lasts 2 years. The people you meet, though, will form your network for years beyond the time you actually work together. Choose your co-workers carefully.

Answer 8

I have a list of questions ready to ask them in the interview. Topics like:

1. Their feelings about adopting new technologies
2. Office culture
3. Why the interviewer likes working there
4. What they see as ambitious vs. rebellious
5. The most exciting thing that happened the previous year
6. Goals for the next year

It gives me a good idea about what it is really like, and since the interviewer is probably put on the spot with my questions it is harder to fake a good attitude. If they don't like me asking questions, it's not somewhere I want to work anyway.

I also try and meet as many people as I can in the office, and get their feelings about the work environment. Sometimes that is not possible.

Answer 9

There is a question I always ask.. it's a bit arrogant but asked correctly it gives a lot of insight: "Are you/the company/the staff/whatever competent?" If the answer is Yes, well, the next one is "How so?". Don't get me wrong, competent employers search for good employees and are happy to prove themselves. Incompetent ones, well, I have nothing more to say.