How to gauge a company’s culture
Elaine offers advice on how to find out if a company's culture is right for you.
Q: I really like the people and culture at my current job, but for financial reasons, I’m beginning to look elsewhere. Is it worth more money to leave an environment in which I feel appreciated, comfortable, and able to collaborate well? If so, how do I get a good read on a company’s culture so I can see how I’d fit in?A.
The question seems to be: “How can I have it all?” If your preference is to stay where you enjoy the people and environment, but you’ve decided you want more money, first determine if you are compensated correctly for your contributions in your current position. Is there a way to take on more responsibility, get promoted, and make more money within the company you know you like? Before making a move, consider the factors that play into the culture/compensation balance at any company—are there are a lot of after-hour emails or weekend expectations? Will you have a personal life? Is it the kind of organization that asks you to cut vacations short in an emergency? Or does it strive to create balance for employees? You’ve already identified that culture is important to you, so you don’t want to just make more money in an organization that makes you unhappy. Evaluate where you are in your career and what you really want. Everything comes at a price—if companies expect you to work around the clock, they will likely compensate you more for it. If an internal promotion isn’t possible and money is a strong driving factor for you right now, pay close attention to clues that companies give about their culture.
The best way to truly get information about a company’s culture is to talk to former or current employees. This means networking becomes the most important part of your job search strategy. Placement professionals will tell you what the company environment is like and what kind of people thrive there, but that information can be colored by the fact that they’re being paid by the company. Resources like Glassdoor are also a great way to find out what really drives the culture; one of the most revealing functions of Glassdoor is to see how—or if—a company responds to negative reviews. Companies who offer to talk to dissatisfied employees show a much higher interest in why their talent is leaving and what they can do to cultivate a positive work environment.
You can also use interviews to gain information on the company culture. Mention what you’ve already heard about the company and then focus on people’s responses: “Things I’ve read about the organization display the culture as being very XYZ; how would you describe it?” Get insight from the team manager, HR, and potential coworkers. Is the company mission driven? Financially driven? Whatever it may be, watch for consistency among their responses and with what Glassdoor or your networking contacts are saying, as the consistent response will be the most telling. Keep in mind that specific managers will also affect the culture of a certain group or team. The finance group might have a very different culture than the marketing group based on the leader and her background—people often carry cultures with them, so look at where a manager has come from for more clues.
If being “comfortable” at your job starts to mean “not being challenged”—and if being challenged is important to you—it may be time for a change. Knowing how your culture needs align with your desired pay range will help you determine your next steps.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com