Philip G. Ball Company often hires younger employees after they have participated in a paid internship program, which helps determine if a position is a fit for an employee’s skills and interests. The company also considers applicants from other firms and industries. Of the latter, most come from some sort of service industry, in keeping with Ball’s emphasis on service. Cutler says workers who are seasoned and experienced are top choices, and especially those who are “team players and think on their feet.”
Pairing your qualifications with a new position is especially important if the change falls into a new function or industry segment, as opposed to taking a new job that is similar to the old. “If you go from a grower-packer-shipper to a retail environment, you go from selling to buying, but that’s not so much a career change as a job change,” Oliver points out. “There are differences, but you can make that jump more easily.”
TAKING THE LEAP
#5 – How Well Do I Know My Prospective Employer?
So you’ve decided to do it—leave your old job and take a new one. This is where thorough research is invaluable. Focus not only on specific details such as your role and the expectations that come with it, but if there’s a clear path for advancement. In addition, look into the performance of the company and the fortunes of its industry segment.
“What space does the company occupy in the industry?” asks Manfre-Gross, who notes that some business sectors are dying off while others, such as organics or avocados, are on the rise. She advises finding out everything from the regions in which a company operates to the customers they serve. “All of these are dictators of the future health of the organization,” she states. “You don’t want to go to the perfect job and then see the doors close a year later.”
“In any dynamic marketplace, certain companies will be winners and others will be losers,” Horwitz agrees. “You should believe in the prospects of the company you want to work for,” she notes, adding, of course, “You want to align yourself with a winner.”
In addition, it’s important to assess the atmosphere within the company. Cutler recommends focusing on aspects such as company culture, whether you’ll have access to the boss, and how well the company takes care of its employees. “The produce industry is very tightknit, and everyone knows one another,” she says. “It’s all about reputation.”
Oliver concurs, mentioning that there are very successful companies with top-notch brands that nevertheless “have a very bad reputation as an employer.”
#6 – Is the Company a Good Fit?
“Company culture is very important to get right,” comments Fragoso. “A career change necessitates learning a new skillset and way of doing things. A conflict with the company culture and values will only add new obstacles to your success in the crucial initial phases of the transition. A change will not be effective for the long term if both parties involved are a mismatch.”
