Here at FMCG Central we have this advice for candidates looking for their dream job.
Base your move around 3 factors – in this order of importance;
- Company
- Role
- Salary
This tells you how highly we rate understanding company culture. To do well in your career it is absolutely vital that the company is a good fit for you.
What is company culture?
We’re basically talking about the way a company chooses to do things – the type of meetings they have, the way they give feedback, the clothes they wear, the people they employ and the management style. As I am sure you appreciate, every organisation’s culture is unique and it’s essential to understand their values because to thrive and feel at home you need to be in tune with those values yourself.
How do I know they are right for me?
Like choosing your friends or where to live you can often tell straight away if a company is right for you – there’s a connection, so don’t ignore your initial gut feelings as they are usually correct. You do then need to reflect and gather more information as this is one of the most important decisions you will make in 2014 if not your life!
Our top tip is to take a good look at your chosen company’s website as this is their company statement – this is the way they have chosen to present themselves to the world. Each word has been checked and approved, so go through it in detail and take note of what they say and how they say it.
Also LinkedIn is becoming increasingly valuable as a research tool. Check out other people in that organization and the people who will be directly in your team. What is their background? Are they connected to people you know? Visit the office, take in the environment and the surroundings,even if the role is home based, because atmosphere is important.
Take time to research and investigate these areas and piece together your thoughts.
Lastly, ask questions which are important to you. Is it the kind of place which values ideas and suggestions or do they want someone who excels at getting on with the job? Does management have an open door policy, do they reward individuals or teams or neither? How do they describe their culture and how do they support women in their careers? Ask for examples.
When you are certain that this is the company for you, you will be in a great position to go out and nail the job because your passion for the role and your confidence that you are doing the right thing will shine through.
For more information on careers in FMCG contact me, Phil, at
07540 049 902
01628 421 850
The Central Line 