A company’s culture can often be one of the best or worst things about your job. But it’s also one of the hardest things to determine before accepting a job.
Since company culture is usually just a general feeling, it can be hard to know if it will be a good fit for you, but there are a few things you can look for at your next interview to help you get a better idea.
- As you walk through the office, are people being social? Do the employees smile at you? Do they seem to enjoy their work? Or are they unfriendly and unsocial? If you see the latter, it might be a red flag.
- What are the employees and the interviewer wearing? Dress code often says a lot about the company’s culture. Is it casual? Or is everyone expected to wear a suit?
- When discussing the details of the job, does it sound like it will provide you with some flexibility? Are their perks to the job, such as bringing your dog into work on Friday’s or free lunches? These types of perks can be clear signs of how relaxed or uptight a company’s culture is.
- What gets mentioned during the interview? Does the interviewer bring up high stress and deadlines repeatedly? If so, this is a good indication of how it will be to work there.
Finally, when it’s your turn to ask questions you should ask what your interviewer likes most about working there. This usually reveals something about the company’s culture. If the interviewer says that he likes the people, the casual environment, the flexibility provided, or anything else indicative of the company culture it can really help you figure out if it will be the right place for you.