Comments on: Gauging the Health of a Prospective Employer http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/ Tips for living frugal while still having a life Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:33:01 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Evaluating Job Offers http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-25596 Evaluating Job Offers Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:57:33 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-25596 [...] Culture and Health. Here, the two companies vary substantially. Both companies are financially healthy and well-respected, but the culture between the two is very different. Job Offer A. Company A [...]

[...] Culture and Health. Here, the two companies vary substantially. Both companies are financially healthy and well-respected, but the culture between the two is very different. Job Offer A. Company A [...]

]]> By: The Best Job Hunt Post: Top 40 Links From The Web | Green Panda Treehouse http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-4793 The Best Job Hunt Post: Top 40 Links From The Web | Green Panda Treehouse Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:51:05 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-4793 [...] Gauging the Health of a Prospective Employer [...]

[...] Gauging the Health of a Prospective Employer [...]

]]> By: Sunday Money Roundup - Monks In Burma Edition. | My Two Dollars http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-2295 Sunday Money Roundup - Monks In Burma Edition. | My Two Dollars Sun, 11 May 2008 14:01:33 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-2295 [...] “With any (job) offer there are tangible and intangible benefits to consider, and it is the intangible ones that are usually the most difficult to evaluate. When I’ve gone on interviews in the past I have used the opportunity to learn a bit about the [...]

[...] “With any (job) offer there are tangible and intangible benefits to consider, and it is the intangible ones that are usually the most difficult to evaluate. When I’ve gone on interviews in the past I have used the opportunity to learn a bit about the [...]

]]> By: Shanti @ Antishay http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-2283 Shanti @ Antishay Sun, 11 May 2008 02:56:34 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-2283 Thank you for writing about all these things. It's funny, one of the best companies I ever worked for had a building that was falling apart and a lot of crappy desks and chairs... I remember being wary when sitting for the interview. But when I got into the interview office I walked down the hall and saw that all the people were talking and laughing, their offices were full of plants, couches and paintings, personal stuff. And most of all, there was no over-done pomp or circumstance to the interview. I was sold - and they were awesome. The climate of the building was, from the outside, sad - but inside they were a happy family. It really does show in the offices, co-worker attitudes, and... the vending machine was always full because the company made cookies and biscotti and health bars ;) We were always eating them for free. Thank you for writing about all these things. It’s funny, one of the best companies I ever worked for had a building that was falling apart and a lot of crappy desks and chairs… I remember being wary when sitting for the interview. But when I got into the interview office I walked down the hall and saw that all the people were talking and laughing, their offices were full of plants, couches and paintings, personal stuff. And most of all, there was no over-done pomp or circumstance to the interview. I was sold – and they were awesome. The climate of the building was, from the outside, sad – but inside they were a happy family. It really does show in the offices, co-worker attitudes, and… the vending machine was always full because the company made cookies and biscotti and health bars ;) We were always eating them for free.

]]> By: Andrea http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-2251 Andrea Fri, 09 May 2008 14:10:29 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-2251 That's an interesting point of view for sure. However, in my last company we had several empty offices because of our rapid growth. They had to shift employees around so much in order to accommodate new leaders coming on board. I also personally didn't like to decorate and our CEO had a policy about stuff on the walls. And, of course, if you check the K's and Q's for the company you can see their debt/asset ratio which is the most important thing to look at. Obviously, it's just one point of view and every culture is different. That’s an interesting point of view for sure. However, in my last company we had several empty offices because of our rapid growth. They had to shift employees around so much in order to accommodate new leaders coming on board. I also personally didn’t like to decorate and our CEO had a policy about stuff on the walls.

And, of course, if you check the K’s and Q’s for the company you can see their debt/asset ratio which is the most important thing to look at.

Obviously, it’s just one point of view and every culture is different.

]]> By: Elliott - 21st Century Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-2219 Elliott - 21st Century Dad Thu, 08 May 2008 01:14:40 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-2219 I've been in so many different workplace environments. Every business has its problems, but some are deal-breakers. The "daddy-track" is much more appealing to me right now than the fast-track. Life in the right lane going 60 on the interstate is where it's at. :) I wonder if it would be considered out of line if I asked employers for their references - vendors, customers, and past employees. I’ve been in so many different workplace environments. Every business has its problems, but some are deal-breakers.

The “daddy-track” is much more appealing to me right now than the fast-track. Life in the right lane going 60 on the interstate is where it’s at. :)

I wonder if it would be considered out of line if I asked employers for their references – vendors, customers, and past employees.

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-2217 Mrs. Micah Thu, 08 May 2008 00:22:50 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-2217 Excellent tips. No matter how good a job sounds, if the employer is on its way out there's no point in crashing with them. I was able to evaluate the closest library just by going there before I applied for the job. Turned out to be the size of my apartment. So I looked at the next closest, which was a good size and had a vibrant circulation. In fact, it's a bit understaffed for the traffic....but they don't expect us to be completely on top of things, either. Just to do our best. Excellent tips. No matter how good a job sounds, if the employer is on its way out there’s no point in crashing with them.

I was able to evaluate the closest library just by going there before I applied for the job. Turned out to be the size of my apartment. So I looked at the next closest, which was a good size and had a vibrant circulation. In fact, it’s a bit understaffed for the traffic….but they don’t expect us to be completely on top of things, either. Just to do our best.

]]> By: DougL http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-2211 DougL Wed, 07 May 2008 15:36:53 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-2211 Get copies of financial statements (assuming you know how to read them - possibly the most important is cash flow). If the company is public, they are available from the SEC online. Even if the company is private, and you're interviewing for a fairly senior position the employer should not have a problem disclosing them in confidence. If they won't disclose them, beware. Get copies of financial statements (assuming you know how to read them – possibly the most important is cash flow). If the company is public, they are available from the SEC online. Even if the company is private, and you’re interviewing for a fairly senior position the employer should not have a problem disclosing them in confidence. If they won’t disclose them, beware.

]]> By: Israel Jobs http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-2210 Israel Jobs Wed, 07 May 2008 14:30:58 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-2210 Good tips, Stumbled this post. Use LinkedIn to ask *past* employees, who can then ask current employees that are former colleagues. <a href="http://jobmob.co.il/blog/gigantic-linkedin-job-search-tips/" rel="nofollow">Gigantic Tips Guide for Finding Jobs With LinkedIn</a> Jacob Good tips, Stumbled this post.

Use LinkedIn to ask *past* employees, who can then ask current employees that are former colleagues.

Gigantic Tips Guide for Finding Jobs With LinkedIn

Jacob

]]> By: Frugal Urbanite http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/comment-page-1/#comment-2208 Frugal Urbanite Wed, 07 May 2008 13:02:57 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/05/07/gauging-the-health-of-a-prospective-employer/#comment-2208 Also check out the employees themselves. If they all look miserable, frustrated, or extremely aggravated, it's usually a bad sign. Also check out the employees themselves. If they all look miserable, frustrated, or extremely aggravated, it’s usually a bad sign.

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