What perks to look for in a job

A company car is a common job perk

When you look for a new job, whether you are searching for IT jobs or not, you should be looking at the perks that come with employment. While some people may only focus on annual holiday, job security or salary, there are other benefits that should be looked at and weighed up.

It is important to know that not all benefits will be mentioned in an interview, so it’s a good idea to ask. For instance, it will not be mentioned in a teaching interview that you will have multiple weeks’ holiday per year, but it is a facet of the job that appeals to many people.

There are some particularly common benefits to be found in jobs, and each can have its own intrinsic value to you:

• Pension: It may seem boring, but knowing that your pension scheme is already in operation and receiving money without you doing anything is a huge bonus. If you are self-employed you will need to start your own pension fund and decide how much to pay into it, which will often mean nothing goes in. By having the money come out automatically, you never see it and so never miss it. This benefit is worth a great deal in saving you time and the stress of starting a fund and paying into it, and will also be a huge relief in the future when it comes to collecting it.
• Company car: If you own your own car you may not be too interested in a company vehicle, but it has its own benefits. For one thing, it will typically be a new car with modern safety features. Secondly, you’ll be wearing out the employer’s tyres rather than your own. You also are unlikely to have to pay for the road tax, servicing or all the expenses of driving. How much this will save you depends on how much driving you have to do, but it could be a lot of money if you’re on the road a lot.
• Joining bonus: This depends on the job and what it means to you depends on your financial situation. If you’re quite comfortable then it probably won’t make much difference, but if you have some bills to pay and can’t wait to get paid a month in arrears then it will be invaluable. A joining bonus is common for teachers and is also quite popular when persuading someone to leave their existing job to join another company. They probably won’t match your monthly salary, but with the average payment being £1,500, they do certainly help make ends meet when in the transition of jobs.
• Freebies: Many jobs now provide freebies like medicals, eye tests and gym membership. These can typically be quite expensive, but employers are happy to pay for them because it ensures the workforce is fit and healthy.
• Training: Many employers nowadays consider training a strong part of employee development, and are therefore happy to cover the costs of courses. If you want to get more training in software development, your employer may be pleased to pay for it. Some even pay for their employees to acquire a degree, but this would likely come with a condition of a minimum term of employment.

As can be seen, there are numerous perks that can be part of a job without applicants even knowing. If, for example, you want to work while acquiring new qualifications, you can talk to the recruiter about it in the interview. If not, it’s always worth asking about medical cover like eye tests; after all, if you wish the salary was a little higher but you won’t have to pay for such things as medical check-ups, tests and gym memberships, the financials may tip in your favour.