Company culture plays an important role in any job offer
I was reading an article in an industry newsletter that said the single most important factor when evaluating a job opportunity is the company’s culture and values. In other words, “what will it be like to work for this company?” I started to think about how you can truly determine a company’s culture, and outside of working for the company for a few months it is going to be difficult to know what the culture will be like. There are a few questions that you can ask in the interview process that might help you get a handle on what kind of culture this company offers.
First, what kind of hours are employees expected to work? Are you given the opportunity to telecommute or to utilize flex schedules? Do the successful employees get to work early every day and stay late? Are you expected to put in extra time on the job (whether or not you are compensated for it)?
Next, what kind of dress code does this employer have? If you have always worked in a casual dress environment you might find a formal suit and tie environment stuffy and unbearable.
Does the company offer any training and development programs for the employees? How often are these programs offered, or how often is an employee able to take part in them? What kind of programs do the offer?
How is the work environment structured? Are you working in cubicles or is it an open bullpen type of environment? Is it a bright and cheerful office space, or is it dull and drab?
Does the company have any kinds of on-site perks (like a daycare facility or gym)?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. The culture that is comfortable for one person might not be a good fit for you. Try to ascertain the culture of the company in the interview process so you’ll be able to include it when making a decision about a new job.