Defined by Entrepreneur as “a blend of the values, beliefs, taboos, symbols, rituals and myths all companies develop over time,” workplace culture can vary significantly from business to business. If you truly expect to happy, content and fit in with your fellow employees, it’s important that you find a workplace culture that jives with your style, personality, philosophy, etc. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that you find the right workplace culture for you.
Perform Online Research
One of the best ways to get a feel for a company is to check out online resources like their website, blog and social media accounts. This should provide you with some nice insight into what their working environment is like, and help you determine if it’s a match for you. For instance, maybe their social media posts are packed with humor and give off the vibe of a laidback atmosphere. If you’re like-minded, then it’s probably a company where you would fit in.
Reach Out to Employees of Prospective Employers
Another technique involves contacting current or past employees to get their direct input on a company’s workplace culture. Gathering contact information should be relatively easy to do, and you can usually find it by looking for employees via LinkedIn or other social networks. You may also be able to find individual contact information directly through a company’s website. Just ask employees if they would share what their experience has been, and what the pros and cons of working with the company are.
Assess the Recruiter’s Behavior
How the recruiter behaves can often be a microcosm for what a company’s overall workplace culture is like. Some questions you might want to ask yourself pertaining to their behavior include:
- Are they polite and courteous? Or do they come across as rude?
- Do they have a sense of humor? Or are they rigid and more formal?
- How professional are they?
While there isn’t always a correlation between a recruiter’s behavior and company culture, it should be somewhat of an indicator. So if you can’t get along with the recruiter, the company might not be a good fit for you.
Analyze the Workplace Environment
If you have an on-site interview, it will provide you with the perfect chance to see firsthand what the workplace atmosphere is like. If you like the environment and get a good feeling about it, there’s a good chance that the culture will mesh with your style. However, if you instantly get a sense of foreboding upon entering the premises, it’s probably not a good sign.
There are a lot of variables that contribute to your chance of job satisfaction, and workplace culture is sometimes overlooked. But by paying attention to the right factors, you can better determine how well you would fit in and find the right job for you.
For more helpful career advice, please check out our job search tips or reach out to our experienced staffing professionals at Shannon Staffing today.
