The Best Places to Work

This past week, Glassdoor came out with their annual list of the best employers to work for in the U.S. and the U.K . Google was rated #1 not surprisingly, especially if you saw the movie, The Internship with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. Google looks like a dreamland: free food, a slide, bikes, being surrounded by brilliant and creative people, Quidditch matches, nap pods and more!  However, if you read the employee reviews of Google, even the most magical place on earth has reported cons, such as the hiring process and the immense size of the company.

What strikes me about the Glassdoor List is that employees report working hard, and in many cases working very long hours. Yet, in most cases it is employees’ values that impact their happiness at work. For instance, being able to go home for a kid’s soccer game, appreciation of their work, being assigned interesting and creative work, being able to learn from senior staff, and even bringing pets to work directly contributed to higher ratings.

Have you ever given time to thinking about what is important to you in work?  Sometimes, when looking for a job or internship we get caught up in the name and prestige of an organization, and the salary.  We tend to forget about the work we will be doing, the culture of the organization, and the other aspects of work that we value. For instance, it is very important to me that my place of employment appreciates and acknowledges my abilities and knowledge, and the work I produce.  I would not be happy nor would I rate an organization highly if this was not the case.  For others, it may be work that allows them to travel, or an organization that offers extensive time off, or work that directly helps others.  What is important to you?

So, begin researching organizations early and often, network with employees both in-person and online through sites like LinkedIn, and when you land that all important interview, ask them questions that will allow you to see if they can support your values.

Suzanne Dagger, Director of
Career Development and Assessment