What young professionals want

The days of a person retiring from the same organisation she joined as a fresher is long gone. The young professionals of today are switching jobs in short periods of time, in pursuit of better opportunities.

Irrespective of the profession, there are certain crucial factors you need to check before taking up a job.

“While the CTC and job role are the main criteria, the work environment and work culture are equally important too. Having friendly colleagues and supportive managers makes it easier to work in an organisation,” says Divita Singh, a PR professional.

According to Divita, the way the Human Resources (HR) department functions is reflective of the company itself.

“When we apply for a new job, if the HR promptly acknowledges the receipt of our resume and informs us about our selection or rejection, it makes the process easier for us. However, in most cases we get a delayed response from the HR team,” says Divita.

Flexible options

Flexibility is another criteria that many professionals consider essential.

“It is always better to work in a company with flexible working hours, and with the option to work from home when required. While management is essential, micro-management isn’t. Freedom to execute work in a way one is comfortable with, generally increases the effectiveness,” says Rishi Rai, an engineer.

For Harshvardhan Tawari, a business consultant, the scope to learn more is a major factor he considers prior to taking up a new job.

“I like working in a dynamic workplace, where I get to learn new things on a regular basis. I worked in a start-up earlier and am currently working in a big organisation, next I would like to work for a mid-sized company, so that I get exposed to different kinds of organisations,” Harshvardhan says.

Work-life balance

Work-related stress is a major issue these days. Increased working hours, lack of physical exercise, junk food, changes in sleep pattern are issues that most young professionals are familiar with. So, many are now valuing work-life balance while considering a new job.

“As a fresher, I was eager to start working and took up a job without much regard to the company's work policy. My work hours would get extended to late in the night, and I could not even take my weekly offs. Due to the stress, I had health problems and I had to quit my job,” says Samyukta S, a content writer and PR strategist.

According to her, one has to consider a company’s policy and work culture before applying for a new job.

“If a company does not have a proper job description or the interviewer cannot answer certain basic questions regarding the work policy, it should signal a red flag,” Samyukta says.

A job that gives time for personal life, time to hone new skills or simply relax is appealing to many. A final year journalism student, Aashith K, says he wishes to take up a job which will allow him to pursue his passion for theatre as well.

Open to exploring

Many youngsters are now open to exploring different fields, to find their true calling.

“Earlier, I felt I need to work in the same domain I specialised in. Now I am open to exploring other fields too. Apart from just moving vertically, a company should allow its employees to move horizontally to different departments too, so that one can acquire new skills in the process,” says Bikash Pratap Singh, a consultant with a multinational company.

While Bikash feels that extreme deadlines require overtime work, one has to be acknowledged for one’s effort.

The appraisal system, perks, cab facilities are other factors that professionals take into consideration.

Relocation

Often, a new job offer or a promotion might require one to move to a different city. While freshers are more open to go to a new place, people with experience often weigh the pros and cons.

Harshvardhan says he will be willing to relocate provided that the place is a hub of the sector he works for, so that there is scope for growth.

“I will consider the cost of living in the new city with the CTC offered. If it is a good deal I will be willing to shift. Also, I will ensure I get sufficient leaves to visit my family as and when required,” says Divita.

M Arun, a civil engineer, says the distance of the workplace from the main town or city matters.

“If the work place is in the outskirts,
then a major amount of time is spent travelling. So, whether there is a transport allowance needs to be checked. Medical insurance should also be provided by the company,” says Arun.

Resmi S, a principal software engineer, will consider relocation only if her family can relocate with her.

“While earlier relocation wasn’t an issue, now as a mother of two children, my family is my priority. Schools, healthcare facilities are some factors that I will consider before moving to a new city,” Resmi says.