Importance of Company Culture During Job Search

Many new graduates entering the workforce often underestimate the importance of company culture during their job search. Company culture is the way people within a company do business and relate to each other and to their customers. This can encompass everything from procedures to dress code to company retreats.

Getting hired at a great company won’t matter if you don’t fit into their culture. The difference between working with a company culture you enjoy and one you don’t can cause several issues, including:

• Lower Self Esteem
• Friction in the Workplace
• Health Issues
• Lower Possibility for Promotions
• Lower Earnings
• Repeated Job Searches
• Depression

No one wants to experience these side effects. To make sure you find a company culture that fits you, you can follow our guidelines below.

1) Know What Matters to You – If you don’t know your own values and philosophies, you can’t know if you fit any company culture. Before you begin your job search, make a list of your priorities, values, hobbies. Include what you want from a job and where you’d like your career to go, these may change over time, but they can help you define your own beliefs and goals. Ask yourself these questions:

• What characteristics do I value?
  • Honesty?
  • Integrity?
  • Hard Work?
  • Creativity?
  • Compassion?
  • Courage?
  • Innovation?
• What work ethic do I have?
• What do I enjoy most about my career or future work?
• Where would I like to be in a year? Five years? Ten years?

Once you understand these things you can truly begin to know what you are looking for in a company culture.

2) RESEARCH!!!- Before you step into any potential employer, do your research. This can’t be stressed enough. Understanding as much as you can about what the company does, who they are and how they operate will help you know their company culture. For example, you can look into the following:

• Company Website- The company website can tell you financial reports, department heads, corporate retreats, dress code and more.
• Company Social Sites- Company social media sites can show you their dress code, latest news about the company, positions available, corporate activities and more.
• Charitable Contributions- The choice of charitable giving can show you a lot about what the company values.
• Online Reviews- You can learn a lot about how the company does business by what people are saying about them and how they respond. Online reviews aren’t completely trustworthy so don’t take them too seriously, but do look them up.

3) Know Who You’ll Be Working With – Look up information about the interviewer, hiring manager, and department head. Research the company website. Also check out social media sites as well as sites like Google and LinkedIn. These sites will show you the interests and hobbies of possible coworkers. If you notice a lot of people who have interests that don’t match yours like sports or arts, be weary but open-minded.

4) Investigate During Your Interview- Once you start the interview process, continue your research and investigations.

• Ask specific and targeted questions to further discover company culture. Just be open and honest.
• Ask interviewers to describe the company culture.
• Ask for a tour of the company.
• Ask to meet with different members of the department you are hoping to enter.
• Ask different people to share their experiences with the company.

5) Pay Attention to Unspoken Cues- In your correspondence with the company, such as emails or phone calls, pay attention to what’s being said and not being said. You can often pick up on different priorities and philosophies. If these values don’t fit or compliment your own values, it might be a big red flag that this company isn’t for you.

6) Perks Aren’t a Top Priority – Don’t lump company perks and company culture together. Some companies’ benefits and perks are amazing, but if the company culture doesn’t fit your personality or beliefs, it won’t matter. Working at a job you dread will bring increased stress, can damage your health, and lower your salary. Perks won’t matter when you’re miserable.

The Perfect Fit Means Long-Term Success and Happiness

If you ignore company culture or forget to research it, you’ll likely find yourself either stagnating or looking for a new job all over again. Save your health, time, and money by knowing your values, researching the company culture, and looking for a company that feels comfortable. You’ll benefit from your research with improved health, promotions, and long-term employment.