For attracting top talent, purpose must come first

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me what I’m looking for in a post-grad job, I’d already have enough saved to retire! Jokes aside, the laundry list of “next steps” looming over soon-to-be graduates’ shoulders can feel incredibly overwhelming. I often wish someone would tell me where to move, what companies to apply to and guide me through the transition from college to “adulting.”

But alas, that isn’t an option.

Instead, I find myself sifting through job listings, trying to remind myself that it is okay to not know exactly what I want to do within the communications space for the rest of my life. I have plenty of time to figure that out.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not looking through job opportunities with a fine-tooth comb. One of the first things I do when I find a job opening, in addition to making sure it aligns with my skills and interests, is research the company, its culture and its values. Even if the job description sounds fantastic, if the company doesn’t align with my personal values or have evidence of a larger purpose, I quickly move on.