While many of us will take the time to look up the company and where their office is located, most of us won’t look into the associated perks of the role in great detail.
Perks have become a crucial part of what attracts the best candidates to a role. They can make city living cheaper, boring roles more rewarding and difficult work-life balances easier to stomach.
In this article, we’ll examine why you should always research job perks in advance and look into some ways you can flesh out your research process.
They might not be relevant
A job perk might sound great, but does it really improve your work or home life.
After all, that should be what a job perk is, something that substantially improves your experience before, during and after your workday.
What kind of a bonus is a free car if you can’t drive (or are making an effort to be more eco-friendly)? Or paid company nights out if you’re commuting hours into work every day and can’t make them? These might sound like great bonuses of an otherwise boring office job, but how often will you see the benefits?
When you see a list of perks, try and apply them to your schedule and aspirations. While you might not drive now, this might be the best opportunity to learn. However, if you’re not in the position to keep a car running, how much of a benefit is it to you?
Don’t mistake a hindrance for a perk just because it’s shiny and new.
They might take years to kick in
Like most things in life, if a perk seems too good to be true, it probably is.
In the case of work perks, this usually means you won’t get full access to them until well into your tenure with a company. There will be base-level perks you can enjoy from day one, but many of the things that initially drew you to the role and the business might not be unlocked until you’ve put the years in.
This can be difficult to fight against, so if this perk is important to you and your enjoyment of the role, it probably isn’t worth grinning and bearing for years of your career.
To use the company car perk as an example again, imagine you need that vehicle to commute to work, but it doesn’t become available until you’ve passed a one year probation period. If commuting by public transport makes your life difficult and eats into your free time, is there really any point in pushing yourself?
They might be watered down versions of better perks
It’s common for businesses to steal ideas for company culture and perks from competitors. That’s totally fine, but problems occur when these perks become watered down imitations that don’t offer you anywhere near as much as promised.
What sounds like a great benefit on paper (often based on your second-hand knowledge) isn’t actually as brilliant in practice.
Healthcare perks are a great place to start. For many people, they’re simply not adequate, which is why specialist organizations have popped up all over the world to secure them (and other promised benefits) for workers within a number of professions, including veterans and construction workers.
This is a similar issue to our previous point. However, once these perks do kick in, they’re nothing special. If a perk is important to you and your decision, don’t be afraid to ask for the full details and gain a clearer picture of exactly what you’re signing up for.
The best job perks in 2021
Let’s take a look at some of the best job perks for workers in 2021. These are more universal perks you should be highlighting throughout your research.
Extra time off / Mental health days
Right now we’re living in challenging times, and for one reason or another, people need regular time off to process their emotions and deal with the unique demands of 2021.
While there will be some workers who want to save up their free time for more ‘normal circumstances’, many will need breaks from the routine of remote working or 24/7 on-site masks. If that sounds like you, ensure you’re applying for positions that offer not just plenty of time off but acknowledge the need for mental health days.
Flexi-work options
Remote working has helped many of us become much more accustomed to the principles of flexi-work, from working within our bedroom offices to clocking in and out early to suit our personal schedules.
This is a must-have benefit for 21st-century living. A workplace that sticks to a regimented 9-5:30 schedule without room to accommodate doctor’s visits, childcare and lifestyle demands isn’t one worth getting into.
If you can, try and find workplaces that allow you to build your own schedule, provided you do all the work on time. It’s not about getting the most out of doing the least, it’s about a trusting relationship with mutual benefit. You keep your life and your work gets you at your best.
The latest equipment
It might now seem like much of a perk, but having the best equipment can dramatically improve your attitude and happiness at work.
The difference between a banged-up old machine and a state of the art laptop cannot be understated. It’ll make every stage of your workday easier, from booting up in the morning to meeting those tight deadlines.
This is less something you can research online and more something you should enquire about during the interview process. If you’re given a tour of the office, try and evaluate the working conditions on offer. Should you have a preference for a particular type of machine, consider asking them to provide you a refurbished one, which are easier than ever to get.
What else should you research before a job interview?
Of course, job perks are just one thing you should be researching about a company/role before or during the interview process.
Here are some other key factors every prospective employee should be across:
- Reviews from previous employees (Glassdoor is brilliant for this)
- Company social media (How do they interact with their audience?)
- Key players within the business (What are they saying about their role?)
- Company culture and values
- Recent news stories in their industry
Doing your due diligence and researching job perks thoroughly is essential before taking on a new role. After all, perks are becoming an increasingly common reason why particularly younger people pick certain career paths. Know what you’re looking for and take the time to ensure you’re making the right decision.