How to find the company that’s right for you

Most employers have several established processes for screening job candidates.

Companies use detailed job descriptions to highlight the qualifications they hope to find in the ideal applicant. Hiring managers also thoroughly review resumes and other job-application materials, in addition to asking specific interview questions and checking references. During your next job search, turn the tables and consider using these same approaches to locate an organization that is right for you.

According to the Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) Report by Robert Half International and CareerBuilder.com, hiring managers are struggling to overcome a "shortage of qualified workers." As a result, those candidates with the most in-demand skill sets are in the driver’s seat.

Following are tips for finding the job that’s right for you.

Create a description of your ideal employer
When companies need to fill a position, they develop a job description outlining the skills and experience they want in an employee. Take a page from the human resources department’s playbook by creating a list of the qualities you’re looking for in an employer.

For some professionals, the list will include attractive incentive programs, a fast-paced work environment and opportunities for quick advancement. For others, tuition reimbursement, access to training programs and a flexible work schedule will be the most important factors.

Determining your priorities and getting them down on paper will help you synthesize your job-related thoughts, expectations and goals. A description of your ideal company also will help you eliminate employers that don’t line up with your personality and career aspirations.

Evaluate the company’s ‘resume’
Job seekers promote themselves through resumes, cover letters and references. Employers produce their own forms of promotion, including annual reports, marketing brochures, fact sheets and website copy.

You can gain a lot of insight into a company by evaluating these "resume" components and looking for answers to the questions most important to you, such as:

How long has the prospective employer been in operation?

How large is the organization?

Is the company an industry leader?

Does the company appear to be growing? If not, does it at least seem stable?

How active is the company within its community?

Conduct your own interview
During job interviews, hiring managers ask a series of questions aimed at determining your strengths, weaknesses, goals and attitudes. Instead of letting the interviewer monopolize the discussion, walk into the meeting prepared to ask questions of your own.

Use the research you conducted prior to the interview to frame your questions. By conducting a "reverse interview," you’ll learn valuable information about the company, its culture and philosophy, and the position for which you’re applying.

If, for instance, you discover that many of the company’s top executives once worked staff-level jobs, you might consider asking questions such as:

How long do individuals typically spend in the same role before being promoted?

Are promotions based more heavily on seniority or merit?

Is the job open because the person who held it before received a promotion?

These questions will help you understand if advancement occurs at all levels of the organization and how long it will likely take for you to move up.

You also can learn a lot by paying attention to what is happening around you. Was the hiring manager disorganized or late? Did the other employees you encounter seem tense or hurried? If so, that might point to a high-stress work environment. The extra information you gather through astute observation can be just as telling as the responses you receive to your questions.

Conduct a reference check
Before companies extend job offers, they almost always check references. You should do the same. Prior to accepting a new position, tap into your professional and personal network for information about the prospective employer.

Ask around to see what experiences your business associates, family, friends and former classmates may have had with the company. You also can search the Internet for news stories about the organization and ask people what it was like to work there.

The goal is to make sure that the word-of-mouth accounts and media reports align with what the company says about itself. If there are significant discrepancies, you’ll want to take that into consideration during your decision-making process. You might even call the hiring manager to address any concerns.

Savvy employers have long used a variety of tried-and-true methods to make the most informed employment decisions possible. By turning the tables and using the tactics outlined above, you can do the same.

Ryan Sutton is a regional manager at Robert Half International (RHI) and oversees the office in Westborough. RHI, which also has an office in Framingham, is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm focusing on the placement of accounting, finance, administrative and information technology professionals.