Organisational cultures differ from company to company. According to career and hiring experts, it is crucial to consider while searching for a job. Job seekers can be miserable working for an organisation that doesn’t suit their skills or interests. They soon find themselves on the job market again—either because they couldn’t stand the workplace culture and quit or because the employer recognised the mismatch and terminated their employment.
What is the company’s workplace culture?
As part of your company’s identity, your workplace culture includes the intangibles that influence your team’s functions. Values, ideals, and beliefs are what define a company’s culture. Even the most minor organisation has a company culture, whether or not they comprehend it. Hiring managers evaluate candidates based on their compatibility with the company’s culture. In the same way, job seekers must determine whether an employer’s culture is right for them, regardless of how desperate they may be. Job seekers’ curiosity about company culture will impress hiring managers and help them stand out.
Pillars of Corporate Culture
1. Accessible leadership with Open Communication
It’s nothing more frustrating than feeling like your higher-ups need to share critical information that impacts your role or the company. It can be incredibly confusing if the information you hear doesn’t come from gatekeepers at the top but is paraphrased or speculated around the office. Look for signs that the leadership adheres to its corporate ideals. Do managers trust employees to make decisions? Are people — including supervisors — held accountable for following through on tasks?
2. Work-life balance
What is the organisation doing to promote mental and physical employee wellness? The willingness to operate with remote and hybrid teams is a big plus, but more than offering flexibility is needed. Companies must also effectively function within these evolving work models and meet employees’ needs in new ways.
3. Commitment to continued learning for career development
Innovation is a driving force for any successful company. Providing an environment that encourages continuous learning and professional development not only helps employees feel like they’re growing, but it is also a way for companies to develop new ideas and processes that enable them to get to the next level.
Does the organisation have a learning and upskilling culture? Try to find out what the company offers regarding training and further education, and how much they will cover. Also, ask your interviewer to explain how people have used the company’s programs to move up.
4. Effective work environment
Office space is integral to organisational culture and dramatically affects how people do their jobs. Be sure you’ll be comfortable in your workplace, whether it’s an office where you can bring your dog and play pinball at lunch or a quieter, more professional environment. After all, you’ll spend a sizable chunk of your time there. If you’re entirely remote, find out how good the company is at setting employees up to succeed at home.
Since the clues that reveal a company’s workplace culture can be subtle, we’ve outlined the following advice for sizing up what a prospective employer is like long before your first day on the job:
1. Employee Longevity
Employee turnover is an intense highlight of workforce culture. How happy are existing employees? Is the company cultivating loyalty and respect? Happy and engaged employees who receive growth opportunities will likely stay in the company.
2. Focus on the Hiring Process
How a company conducts the hiring process speaks volumes about its workplace environment and cultural values. Even at a startup, the procedure should be well-organised and professional and address the candidate’s needs. For example, it’s a red flag if the employer won’t allow you to have a video meet-and-greet with the other team members during the later parts of the interview process. Likewise, be careful if the hiring manager appears to be dishevelled or disengaged.
3. Clear Goals and Values
As the job market improves, job seekers become more concerned with finding work they enjoy. Employees don’t want to show up to the office, mindlessly do their jobs, and go home every day. Professionals want to connect with the work they are doing and the meaning behind it. Identifying the company’s culture is crucial to feeling connected to your workplace. It’s essential to make sure your employer’s goals/purpose fit with yours. Understanding your company’s purpose and how it relates to your personal growth will help determine if the organisation is the right fit.
4. Company’s LinkedIn/Digital Presence
- Browse the “About’ or ‘History’ page on their website for information about their origin, mission, or company-wide milestones and awards.
- You can find lots of information about your company on LinkedIn, including employees who work there, connections, career paths, videos, and employee reviews.
- Employee reviews over job seeker sites, like Glassdoor, can give you a glimpse of what it’s like to work for a particular company.
5. Ask Questions
Employees interviewing at a company who want to learn more about its culture can also ask the following questions to uncover how things work there, according to a Glassdoor blog post:
- How long have you been with the company?
- When was the last significant achievement celebrated?
- What activities do you offer employees?
- Last year, what was the department’s most important challenge, and what did you learn from it?
- How do you measure success, and over what time frame? How are those metrics determined?
Only some people can work at their dream job, but most people can find a position where they are happy and prosperous. By learning and prioritising which cultural elements you find most important, you can find a job where your work is exciting, engaging, and rewarding.
