Everyday, we come across several cases where candidates have taken wrong decisions in selecting organisations and have come to grief. Quite a few of them are so desperate and frustrated with their new organisations that they are even willing to leave their jobs and sit at home rather than go through the pain of attending their office. And very often, they come to such drastic conclusions even within 15 days of joining their new organisations.

Their complaints (some of them):

i) Assignment (job profile) is not as per agreed earlier
ii) work conditions not conducive/professional
iii) unable to get along with seniors/peers
iv) organisation in a financial mess (and possibly downsizing/closing down)
v) salaries not paid regularly
vi) salary paid is lower than what was agreed
vii) industry in melt-down stage
viii) lot of financial "hanky-panky" and irregularities
ix) asked to do "illegal/unethical" activities.

So, it is very important to look at the "right organisation" before joining.

We give below the various factors one must consider before signing-up with one's new employers. (Ideally, one should consider these factors even before applying for candidature to any organisation):

i) Industry: one should be very clear about the type of industry the organisation is in i.e. where exactly the industry is in its life-cycle: sunrise (e.g. insurance, biotech, IT/telecom services); growth (e.g. mobile/cellular services, media, entertainment) , saturation (e.g. chemicals, scooters, colour TVs); or decline (e.g. textiles, black & white TVs). Even seemingly sunrise/growth industries have changed their status abruptly and in a very short period of time (classic example being the dotcom world. Today, there are few takers for people "stuck" in the dotcom companies)

ii) The management team: one has to get a lot of information on the quality & competence levels of the top management team; the management's philosophy, work culture, ethics, image in professional circles etc.

iii) The organisation's life-cycle status: even in a growth industry, there are a lot of organisations going down-hill (e.g. Maruti in automobile industry or NOCIL in speciality chemicals industry). One has to get a fix on an organisation's SWOT analysis, its product/service status (image, performance) vis-À-vis its competitors, its core competencies and its medium to long term plans.

iv) The organisation's financial health: a very important factor. Even if the organisation has recently suffered financial reverses, reasons for the same must be ascertained. (The reverses could be due to major investments made in expansion, technology, VRS etc. and these need not necessarily be seen in a negative light)

v) The organisations' HR practices: one must get information on the satisfaction levels of employees of the organisation and the attrition levels experienced by the organisation vis-À-vis its competitors and the industry at large. Further, one's own professional goals and ambitions (short term and long term) must be in sync with what the organisation has to offer.

vi) The job profile: this must be in line with one's core experience, core competencies and professional ambitions. The job location and designation must be clearly spelt out and mentioned in the appointment letter. One should in no way compromise on this for short term gains.

vii)Organisational fitment: one should be very clear where one is being fitted in the overall organisational hierarchy. This should not come as a surprise subsequently

viii) The salary and hygiene factors: These too must be in sync with one's short term and long term goals. You must have a total clarity on the salary being offered (tax implications, tangible/intangible benefits etc.)

To summarise, a lot of research and work has to be done for identifying a suitable organisation for exploring job opportunities.

One should access and study all sources of company information (product brochures, annual reports, press releases, websites, information on the parent company/promoters etc.). To the extent possible and before signing up with an organisation, one should interact with as many employees and customers/dealers of the organisation as well as visit the organisation's offices/manufacturing & service facilities.

This requires time and patience. The initiative has to come from one's self for this and one must not be compromising on the efforts required to do this research.

After all, it is your own career you are planning. A lot is at stake. A wrong move can have a lifelong adverse impact on your professional and career plans and achievements.