Whether it’s time to advance in your career or graduation is approaching, your next idea might be the next best move to make. However, the doubt your feeling, might be holding you back. Don’t let that stop you! Why? Because you’re not the only one. There are millions of other people around the globe feeling the same exact way. The time has come when graduation is right around the corner or you’re looking to take your career to the next level. You have an idea of what your next move is but aren’t sold on it. Not to worry you and millions of other people are in a similar situation around the globe.
Over the years, there's been countless amounts of startup companies that started out as just ideas. Now some of them have transitioned into multi-million or even multi-billion dollar businesses. Airbnb, Canva, and Postmates are among those companies that have joined the unicorn club. to come to mind. To scale companies like this, you need to be backed by money and lots of it. And who provides that type of backing? Investors!
How does this relate to your job search you ask? Take a second and think about it. If you were an investor would you give your money to anyone with a “good” idea? Not your hard earned money. You’d need more information. aren’t just giving their money away to any good idea they hear. Any good investor will do due diligence on the presented industry, company, and it’s people. So how does this relate? The investment you’re adding to a company or career is crucial because this is your time and your experience that you’re giving. So whatever you choose, Make sure you’ve done the research.
Here’s how you should evaluate your next career move like an investor:
Industry Research
Think about the value you bring to any team and how your skill set is beneficial to the industry. Doing this initial research, will give you insight on the rising jobs in that industry. Take a look at this resource Glassdoor Economic Research.
For example, take a look at the Cannabis industry. There has been a massive push on the federal and state level to decriminalize marijana. The number of states allowing medical and recreational marijuana use are rising. Which in turn means that business is coming and more jobs.
Company Research
Once you’ve narrowed down the industries you’re interested in,,start looking into companies within that sector. Investors spend most of their time during this phase because it helps them determine whether or not they should invest. Investors will look at business plans, financials, and product. If an investor doesn’t invest in a company that’s in order why should you work for that company?
So start your due diligence by looking at my go to Crunchbase. They’ll provide you with all the information you need about the team and funding. Then head back over to Glassdoor to get the inside scoop on what previous and current employees are saying. FairyGodBoss is another good resource to get employee feedback on companies. Last but not least, don’t forget to Google. Googling the name of a business and finding any articles about them is also a good way to stay on top of that company’s news.
Individual Research
Many reports have proven that people don’t leave companies, but instead leave their managers and you better believe investors won’t invest in bad people. Put on your investigation hat and start looking at the members on your future team. Social media should be your first stop. LinkedIn will give you a professional overview of the person and where they’ve been throughout their career. Looking at profiles such as Twitter and Instagram will give you a peek into their personal lives.
What Now?
All this initial research will benefit you when you get to the interview stage. You’ll come equipped with a wealth of information about the industry, company, and possibly the person interviewing you. If you’re in the research phase and need assistance narrowing your search, book a session with our career coach who can help you find your next career opportunity.