There is much more to the decision of accepting your next job than simply matching your skills to the duties. Recruiters often talk in terms of “fit.” This should be something that candidates should take into consideration as well throughout the interview process. If a company’s values aren’t in line with your own you will quickly find yourself wishing you hadn’t accepted the job. This can put you in a much more complicated position than if you had declined it and simply moved on. Company cultures will vary as much as individual values so here are some things to look for and evaluate based on your preferences.
- Rank the characteristics. There are some general things you should take into consideration when looking at a new company. These include telecommuting options, design of the office, ability to personalize office space, team interaction, promotion opportunities, and professional development. Consider these and other aspects of the job and rank them based on your own personal preferences.
- Insider information. You may be able to connect with individuals from the company through LinkedIn or Twitter. Use this to research the organization and even ask specific questions as you consider working there. Ask questions like: how would you describe the company, how would your spouse or partner describe the company, and what do you like best about the organization?
- The website. The amount of information the website shares about the company culture is telling in and of itself. A website might share information about the company’s environmental policies, their volunteer work in the community, or office social events. If this information is missing from the site, that may be an important indicator as well.
- Office Characteristics. How are decisions made in the office? How is communication handled from manager to employee? What kind of recognition programs are in place? How do departments interact with each other? How does top management interact with the rest of the chain? All of these things will tell you about the company culture.
- Personal choices. Ultimately, the decision to work with a company will be personal. You may like an environment that is heads down with little social interaction or you may prefer a place where interdepartmental communication is encouraged and teamwork is a top priority. However, if you are an introvert working in an extroverted company you will quickly realize that it isn’t a good environment.
Are you looking for the best job to fit your personal values? Contact the recruiters at CornerStone Staffing today!
