Brian Devane — November 17, 2018 — November 17, 2018
StartupStockPhotos / Pixabay
If you want to know what it’s like to work for a company and find out about their company culture the best time to ask is during the job interview. It’s hard to get a full grasp of what exactly some companies culture is. Like job seekers, companies tend to showcase the best of themselves in an interview and it is hard to get a proper feel of what it would be like to work at that company. So, it is important during the interview to find out whether that company culture will suit you or not. How do you find this out?
Choose Carefully
Finding that company that is the best fit for you starts before you enter that interview room. Often it can happen where you keep applying for job after job without sitting down and research one that sticks out for you. This needs to be done by you if culture is important to you. Have a look at the companies’ website and social media profiles to see what way staff are treated. With Rezoomo.com everything about the companies’ culture is available on their corporate profile with links to their social media. Check out employer branding videos and see if their culture would be a place you would like to work. A video is one of the best ways to get an understanding of a company’s culture. Can you see elements of their culture that are important to you? Is there diversity? Do they support charities? Is there a chilled atmosphere or are the company pretty uptight on social media?
Take Note
One of the best things you can do when you get to the interview is take in the surroundings around you. It’s as if you are going undercover sussing out the ins and outs of the place. This is a great opportunity for you to see how the staff act while at work, so make use of that time.
Does it look like the staff have a good cohesion and are socialising together? Or, does it seem like everybody keeps to themselves and there is little to no interaction? If there is more than one interviewer in the room, how do they interact with each other? Does it look like they get on well as a friend or is it just strictly a working relationship?
Undoubtedly it will be difficult to pick up on all this as you are focusing in on trying to the do the best you can do in the interview. If you have any doubts about the company then trust your gut instinct. If it just doesn’t feel like the right fit for you then don’t take the job offer if it is offered to you.
Ask Thoughtful Questions
When you get the opportunity to ask your questions is the best chance for you to find out about company culture. It is important you ask the right questions.
From finding out how the company assists staff, to how management deals with disagreements. It is imperative that you ask stimulating questions so that it shows that you’re engaged in the hiring process.
So, what type of questions should you be asking the interviewer? There are a number of questions you could ask but we have narrowed it down to the following questions you could ask about culture in your interview:
- What do you like most about working here?
- How does the company go about giving and receiving feedback?
- What traits do the most successful employees here have?
- How does the organization support your professional development and career growth?
- What kind of flexible work arrangements do people have?
Undoubtedly, company culture can be at times hard to grasp not only for you but also the company. Every company has a culture but showcasing it can be an issue for many organisations. Just asking these questions in an interview will help you pick up a few insights into whether the company is a culturally good fit for you.
You spend the majority of your time at work, so it is important that you find a company culture that is akin to your values and goals. No doubt it is difficult to get an understanding of a companies’ culture. However, if you keep these pointers in mind you will find that company that suits you.
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