New Year, New Career! How To Evaluate Your Next Job Opportunity

Are you seeking a career change? You’re not alone. January has proven to be one of the busiest hiring months of the year. Both job seekers and employers are looking to make changes during the first quarter of the year, so not only will you need to stand out, you’ll also want to be sure you know what to look for when it comes to making a major career change at a new company.

Not only do you need to land a job offer, you should be confident when accepting that job offer when the company and role is right for you. Below, we rounded up the top things to look for in a company when making a career change.  

Ask yourself some basic questions: How do you want to work? If you’re currently employed, what would make your next opportunity ideal? What sort of attitudes and beliefs do you agree with? What are your professional goals? Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers right now – just make sure you’ve at least started thinking about it.

During the interview process, make sure to talk to the recruiter and hiring manager for insight into the culture. Showing you’re curious and have a genuine interest in learning more about the day-to-day cultural nuances will both showcase your desire to obtain the position and give you a glimpse into if that job opportunity will be the right fit. Check out the philosophies that our team members consider to be the foundation of our culture.

Rocket Mortgage^® has a Diversity & Inclusion team devoted to championing diverse backgrounds and perspectives where they not only actively work to attract and recruit diverse talent, but they engage and retain team members too.

We also have Team Member Resource Networks, which are volunteer groups joined and led by team members who seek community around a common experience or identity. These groups are a great way to meet new people and build your own mini community. Groups exist for veterans, LGBTQ+ team members, outdoor fanatics and more.

Depending on which company within Rocket Companies^® you join and which city you work in, there are a wide range of work perks to utilize: an in-house gym and workout classes, a basketball court next to offices and a cafeteria that serves breakfast and lunch can be found on our Detroit campus.

Other benefits available to all team members include health care coverage, up to 4 weeks paid vacation your first year in addition to seven paid company holidays, parental leave, day care subsidies and more. Check out the full list of benefits.

Sometimes you love the company you’re at but realize that you’d love to explore a new role within that company. Whether the new opportunity in question is in the same business area or not, Rocket Mortgage^® empowers team members to explore various roles and teams. Our THRIVE program ensures existing team members find new opportunities that align with their true (or newly found) passions. Team members are paired with a THRIVE recruiter, then they share the needs and wants they’re looking for in a new opportunity and then a plan is devised to help them get there.

Volunteer experiences help grow your leadership abilities, connect you with local residents and help build stronger communities. Rocket Mortgage^® is a For More than ProfitSM business, which simply means that our company’s mission is not only to generate profits, but also to positively impact the city of Detroit.

Since moving our headquarters to downtown Detroit nearly a decade ago, our team members have volunteered hundreds of thousands of hours with community nonprofits, and we’ve given more than $100 million in direct contributions to numerous Detroit community, social and institutional organizations. 

Team members are encouraged to share their time and talents by volunteering in the communities we work in, and we even have team members that will help identify opportunities that leverage your specific expertise.

Whether you’re seeking a career change or not, these tips will be helpful for you to evaluate your current employer and get an understanding of how to evaluate them moving forward.