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How to Assess A Potential Employer’s Company Culture

How to Assess A Potential Employer’s Company CultureWhen you’re interviewing for a job you want to make sure to impress the hiring manager with your knowledge and passion. But many candidates don’t realize that they should also be doing some interviewing of their own during this time. As you move through the hiring process, you’ll want to do some investigating into the culture within that organization in order to ensure that the company is actually a good fit with your lifestyle and goals.

Why does company culture matter to you?

A company’s culture can shape an employee’s life in a number different ways. It can impact the amount of hours you work, your ability to advance within the company, the resources that are provided to you as an employee, and the amount of time you’ll need to commit to the office outside of the typical 9-5 work day. For these reasons, it’s highly important to investigate company culture before deciding to come on board.

How to research an organization’s culture

There are a number of different ways to get a sense of the culture that exists within an office. For example, if you have an interview, arrive a little bit early and spend some time watching how people interact. How are they dressed? Do they seem to enjoy each other’s company or is there palpable tension within the office? Are people running around frantically? These kinds of subtle cues can give you a good idea about what your experience might be like if you were to get hired.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to come right out and ask the hiring manager about this topic. Inquire about how decisions are made within that organization. Talk about the kinds of people they typically hire, and what types of people have been successful within that company in the past. Most hiring managers are more than happy to talk about company culture, as it shows the employee is conscientious and sees the value in finding a place that is a good cultural fit. This is something that is becoming increasingly important to hiring managers too, so the discussion is an important one to have.

How has company culture shaped your work experience in the past? Let us know in the comments!

Image: stryjek/Bigstock.com

Lauren Levine

Lauren Levine is a copywriter/blogger who contributes to a number of magazines and websites including The Frisky, USA Today, and others. She also authors her own blog called Life with Lauren. She loves cooking, anything on the E! network, and is trying to convince herself that running isn't so bad.

1 comment

  • Don’t forget about online sources, such as glassdoor.com, payscale.com, and the company’s own social media sites (LI, FB, etc). Also, check out online reviews with a general search, or a specific search through the Better Business Bureau.
    Lauren Milligan, ResuMAYDAY.com