Finding a Fit With Your Next Employer

Every organization has a unique culture. This blend of values informs and reflects the firm's policies and actions, and often sets the tone for the day-to-day office environment and how employees interact.

Think of corporate culture as a pair of glasses you'll wear every day. Even the best-looking glasses -- the ones that impress your friends and draw compliments from co-workers -- will quickly have you aching to remove them if they constantly pinch your nose.

So how can you tell whether you'll fit into a company's culture before you start working there? It's not always easy, but the following advice can help:

Know what you want

Many job candidates misjudge their ability to adapt to an unfamiliar work culture, so they don't take the time to clarify, even to themselves, what type of office environment fits them best. Do you thrive in a demanding or relaxed environment? Innovative or traditional?

Jot down a list of your work values so you can see how well they align with a potential employer's culture. If you value frequent communication with your superiors, for example, you may encounter problems if managers are rarely in the office.

Conduct a little research

It's fairly easy to develop at least a fuzzy picture of a company's work environment based on what you've heard from friends or read in the media. Before you reach the interview stage, bring that picture into sharper focus.

Start with the corporate Web site. Just as important as what the company says about itself is how it says it. Also search news and business sites for recent articles or profiles. If your prospective employer is a public company, check out its annual report for more hints about life at the firm.

Hear it through the grapevine

Past or present employees of the company can provide invaluable insight. Even if you don't know anyone who has worked at the firm, you're probably within a few degrees of separation of someone who has, so take advantage of your professional network.  

Online networking sites such as LinkedIn or Facebook can help you expand your connections and learn more about the organization. The more people you ask, the better – if you hear a negative report from a disgruntled former employee, for example, try to balance it with the impressions of someone who works for the firm now.

Learn from the interview

The interview process is your best chance to learn about a company's corporate culture. For example, take note of the workplace atmosphere. Do employees seem engaged with their work and each other, or under stress and isolated?

When meeting with the hiring manager, ask questions geared toward the workplace culture, such as "What do you like best about working here?" You might also ask about the characteristics the firm values most in its workers or about how often people get together outside of the office.

Again, the way the interviewer responds can be just as revealing as the response itself. Does he or she hesitate before responding? Do you get a sense of genuine excitement, or does the response seem contrived?

Build your mosaic

Don't put too much stock in any single impression, whether it's from an interviewer, your research or a friend's experience. The more information you get, the better able you'll be to tell an aberration from a distinct pattern. A former employee's complaint about a caustic environment, for example, might say more about that person than the workplace culture.

But at the same time, don't hold your tongue if you are feeling at all uncomfortable about any aspect of the new job or the office climate. A follow-up interview or phone call gives you a chance to address any concerns you've developed. For example, if you've heard from several sources that management doesn't encourage creativity, ask the hiring manager about it directly.

As you conduct your research, keep in mind that you're not necessarily judging how well an organization works overall – you're determining how well it might work for you. A company may have a thriving, efficient workplace that just doesn't suit your personal work style. Remember, when it comes to corporate culture, there's no such thing as one-size-fits-all.

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com.