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You Have the Skills. How Can You Learn About the Culture Before Accepting a Job?

Company culture is something you’ll want to pay close attention to before accepting a job. If you’re a natural fit culturally, you automatically increase your likelihood of achieving a high level of job satisfaction and overall success. You’re also more likely to fit in with the rest of your colleagues and share the same philosophy/values.

But how can you learn about the culture of a prospective employer? Here are some strategies.

Know What Type of Environment You Thrive In

First of all, you’ll need to do a self-assessment. To ensure you’ll mesh with a particular culture, you must understand your own working style, approach to tasks, personal preferences, etc. Here are some examples of questions you can ask yourself to gain a better understanding.

  • Do I function better in a collaborative team environment, or do I work better independently?
  • What motivates me to be productive?
  • What types of values do I hold in high esteem? (e.g., being eco-conscious might be a big deal to you)

Perform Online Research

Usually, online research will give you a nice feel for a company’s culture. A good place to start is its website. Check out areas like the “About Us” section, their history and blog. Next, spend some time on their social media accounts. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can be very telling. You may also want to do a Google search to see what type of content pops up.  Are they strictly professional? Do they seem to promote a fun and outgoing personality?

Ask the Same Questions to Different People

You may get the chance to chat with a few different people during your interview. Whether it’s an administrative assistant, potential colleagues or the interviewer, you can get a sense for what the culture is like by having a few preselected questions ready to go. Here are some good examples:

  • What has your experience been like working here?
  • What do you love most about your job?
  • What do you wish you could change?

Look for trends in the responses you receive because this can be an indicator of the underlying culture.

Observe the Office

You can also tell a lot about a company by simply observing the behaviors of everyone in the office. Does it seem like everyone is functioning well as a team? Or is there a disconnect?

Is there an atmosphere that welcomes innovation and fresh ideas? Or is it more formal and rigid?

Pay close attention to your observations because they will be a firsthand window into the collective culture.

It’s important to find a company you’ll feel comfortable working for. Otherwise, it’s going to be an uphill battle right from the start. By analyzing these key elements, you should be able to learn everything you need to know about a company’s culture before you accept the job.

Find a position in a company where you truly fit in. Get in touch with Axiom Staffing Group today!

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