With the current unemployment rate at the lowest it’s been in 17 years, employers are constantly looking to bring on new talent! In fact, 69% of employers plan on hiring new staff in 2018, according to hiring decision makers surveyed for our 2018 Hiring Outlook. As a result, now is the perfect time for professionals to take advantage of the new wave of hiring needs. You should be looking beyond the job description when determining whether an opportunity is the right fit for you. Since work is where you typically spend the majority of your day, it’s important to consider the factors that would make a prospective employer a great place to work. After all, the happier you are in the workplace, the more engaged you will be with your job.

If you’re serious about accepting a job offer, pay close attention to these three areas:

1. The company culture

Be sure to do your due diligence by researching different aspects of the company. To identify a great place to work, first check out their online presence, which gives the public a glimpse into who they are as an organization, what they do, and what differentiates them from the competition.

To do this, look at their social media profiles (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) and third-party review sites (e.g., Glassdoor, Great Place To Work, Indeed, etc.) to see how they promote their brand and what people have to say. When doing this, evaluate whether the company uses authentic photos that highlight company-wide events, fundraising initiatives, or new content. You’ll also want to see if the company has been featured in the news, experienced any major accomplishments, or won any prestigious awards. If a company has won a “Great Place to Work” award, for example, this is a good indication that your prospective employer is doing something right!

2. Professional development opportunities

Companies that hire for potential and make the effort to nurture talent from within are the type of employers you want to work for. Therefore, identifying opportunities for professional development should be a major focus for you when interviewing. To determine whether a company is a great place to work in order to advance your skills, be sure to ask questions about their initial and ongoing training efforts, continuing education policies (i.e., tuition reimbursement, webinars, etc.), and leadership development initiatives. At the end of the day, you want to work for an employer where you can easily stay up to date with your skillset.

3. Wellness in the workplace

As mental and physical health becomes increasingly important to working professionals, a great place to work will show that they value their employees’ work-life balance. From offering flexible work schedules, summer hours, or work from home policies, the best places to work encourage their employees to take care of themselves both physical and mentally.

You should also pay attention to companies that promote physical and mental wellness through company-wide fitness initiatives as well as workshops on wellness and mindfulness. If a company doesn’t regularly practice ways for their employees to remain sharp, both physically and psychologically, you might want to find an employer that does.

For more information on what to look for in a new role, check out our 2018 Career Outlook infographic: http://learn.execu-search.com/2018-career-outlook