What clues can a job seeker gain about the culture of a company
during the interview process? How can a job applicant determine whether this place
would really be a good place to work? If
you're the job applicant, how do you know whether or not you'll fit in?
Company culture can be difficult
to interpret since you're looking from the outside in and not from the inside
out. Here is a short list of tips, clues, and questions to help you interpret the
culture of a company or office.
1)
Before the Interview, search Linkedin.com to determine
the average duration that employees have lasted with this firm. You'll also be
able to tell which career path most, but not all, employees followed to get
there. Based on the demographics, you may also be able to tell if the company's
workforce is younger or more experienced.
2)
When you enter the lobby for an interview, is
the receptionist happy, welcoming, and in good spirits? Typically, the
receptionist is the first person you see and remember when entering a business.
It's a good sign if the company invested wisely in this person. (Note: There is
a chance, of course, that the employer may not have a receptionist, or that you're
greeted by a security guard. This depends on the type of company and its location.)
3)
During a job interview, here's a good question
to ask a hiring manager or potential team members: "How does your team or
company celebrate success?" This will help you to gauge whether the
organization celebrates internally or externally. Personally, I've worked in environments
where not a single co-worker engaged in outside activities. I've also worked in
other places that have.
4) Analyze the employees' office space. Is it personalized
with family pictures, plants, décor and achievements? Or is it strictly about business?
5)
If you are interviewing in the evening, are employees
there who have stayed late to finish work? If management stays late to complete
assignments, the employees might be expected to stay late, too. (This depends
on the company, of course.).
6)
Last but not least, ask as many people you
know for information about who might have worked or currently works there. This
seems obvious, but remember to do it!
Hopefully, these tips, clues, and
questions will help you to decide if the company you're interviewing with is
right for you. What would you add to this list?
Editor's Note: Jake Briggs (KER_Recruiter)
is a Direct Hire Recruiter / Search Consultant for Kelly Engineering Resources
in Buffalo, New York. His territory includes the Upstate, NY Region as well as
U.S. Based Searches for Engineering, Quality & Operation Management
Positions. The views expressed on this Web site/Weblog are mine alone and do
not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
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Re: Would You Really Want to Work There?
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