When considering a job offer, you might weigh several factors, including the salary, the benefits and the commute. But have you ever contemplated a company’s culture?
What is workplace culture? Well, it encompasses an organization’s mission and long-term objectives as well as the expectations that staff members must meet. It involves working conditions, ethics and an overall attitude. Finding a culture that nurtures and motivates you is a key to enjoying your job and avoiding burnout.
.jpg)
Know Thyself
Before you apply for jobs, reflect upon your preferences. Do you like quiet workspaces or boisterous atmospheres? Would you rather handle one project at a time or juggle multiple initiatives? Are you a team player or a more solitary person? How would you like to be on-boarded or left to your own devices? Knowing exactly what you want will help you narrow your options.
Cultural Research
Next, make a list of the companies you’re interested in, and try to learn as much as you can about their cultures. Look at their social media pages, Better Business Bureau profiles and online customer reviews. Do those businesses seem to have strong relationships with clients? Have they ever gotten into any legal or ethical trouble?
Your First Visit
The first time you go to a company’s headquarters, look around the building or campus and spend some time sitting in the lobby. Speak to the receptionist, and observe those coming in and out. Do the employees generally seem content, or do they look sad, angry or harried? Are the people friendly? Does the place seem calm and orderly? If it’s lunchtime, are people eating together or leaving the premises?
Even the appearance of a workplace ― the colors, the brightness, the furniture choices, and the arrangement of offices and cubicles ― can affect your day-to-day comfort and happiness levels.
Sensing a Connection
Remember that employers don’t always hire the most qualified applicants. Instead, they often hire people they somehow click with immediately, those they feel will complement their culture. Therefore, don’t feel inadequate when you get turned down.
Not every business is right for you. This whole matter of culture ― which job portals never sufficiently address ― is personal and idiosyncratic. In so many instances, not getting a job is actually a lucky break. Spending 40 hours per week in a place where the culture doesn’t suit your personality can be miserable.
For more useful tips and valuable help, contact the recruiting experts at Madison Approach Staffing.
