I am surprised when my friends tell me that they don't know anything about the culture of the company they are going to start working for. "The pay is good, and I like the title of my job. That's all that matters. Is that it? These are important factors, of course, but if you're not happy in your workplace, you won't stay long.
Happiness is subjective, of course. What makes me happy may not matter to you. I feel happy when I am doing the kind of work that meets my creative needs, in a workplace where I can see myself learning and growing as a person and in my career. This is greatly influenced by the company's culture.
The right working environment can stir up your latent creative capacity... then, be intentional about your workspace.
How can you determine a company's work culture before you step in and accept the job offer?
Here are some tips to keep in mind during your office interview so you know what you might be getting into:
- Look around: Do you know how you would inspect your potential new home? That's what you should do in an interview when you walk into what is likely to be your office. The only drawback here is that you can't ask the "agent" direct questions. Don't worry, though, it's amazing how much you can learn just by casually looking around. Just keep your eyes and ears open.
Heard by chance in the office
"Sorry, you can't talk on the phone inside the office facility. You must do it in the hallway."
What this means: There are rules in this office, and they must be followed. If you are someone who produces better in a structured environment, this place might be a good choice for you.
Seeing is believing
Family photos, comic strips, personalized desktop spaces.
What this means: This company encourages employees to have a different voice and personality. If you are someone who thrives in a freer environment, you should expect a second interview here.
Attention goes both ways:"So, what do you do in your spare time?" As I answer, I realize that my interviewer is not really listening because she has already moved on to the next question. If she is your future manager, and she's not interested in what you have to say... well, I don't think she expects you to be able to contribute a lot to this company. It's probably a small position, or worse, your manager thinks you're inconsequential. That's not good for your self-respect or your career prospects. Look for signs that indicate she's really interested in you. A great way to learn more is to pay attention to the questions they ask you. If she is really interested, you will find yourself in an interesting conversation rather than a one-way dialogue.
Are you human? I attended a couple of interviews where I wanted to jump in and show a Captcha code and ask the interviewer: Are you a human being or a robot?
There are a lot of blogs and books that talk about the importance of body language in an interview. Unfortunately, they are all aimed at the interviewee. So if you look closely at your interviewer, you can learn many things about your future company. She may be saying,"I give a lot of freedom to my team," but her body language indicates quite the opposite. Watch your posture, are you tense or relaxed?
If your posture is tense, it can mean that your potential boss has a particular way of achieving results. If hard love is what you need, then you've found your match.
- Curriculum vs. person: Let me say, I am more than my resume. Some recruiters insist on stopping at every point in your resume, and while it's important, isn't that more of an interview than that? I love to see interviewers who take a sample of my resume to ask me more interesting questions.
When someone only sees your resume in an interview, they tell me that the company is only interested in technical skills and not the person. They don't care about my story, who I am, where I'm from. They are not interested in hiring a person, they are only looking for someone who can complete the job.
- Does your manager love the company?
Before I pass the exam, I just want to tell you that this job requires a lot of work and long hours. You don't come here to have fun or play. From there I knew it, this was not a happy workplace (or my manager wasn't a happy person - anyway, I should have stayed out).
Unhappy employees make unhappy workplaces. From the outside, this is very easy to measure. This is also true by looking at the other side of the coin. When someone's in love, you can tell. You don't even have to ask. They blush, talk incessantly, shine when the company's name is mentioned to them.
I've met people who love their jobs and the companies they work for. It's weird, but when the relationship has been long, you know it's true love. When employees have worked at the same location for a considerable amount of time (product managers and architects have worked for Zoho for an average of 10 years), you know that the company is doing something right. If your prospective manager talks about the company's excellent work culture without asking you, take note. And if you sigh deeply before the interview begins, take note of that too. Just remember, no one can fake happiness. At least, not for long.