5 Things an Interviewer Can Tell You About Company Culture
Many new hires and job hunters have heard that the hiring committee shouldn’t be the only ones asking questions during an interview. Both parties should actively work to determine whether the interviewee is the right fit for the position.
For that reason, you’ll want to make the most of the usual end-of-interview Q&A session. If you’re wondering what kind of information you should seek, asking about company culture is an excellent place to start.
What Is Company Culture, and Why Should You Care?
Company culture can be formally defined as the expectations, values, ethics, and beliefs that guide employee behavior. You can learn about a company’s culture in various situations, from how employees interact with each other to how employees are held accountable for violating policies.
Company culture is a significant determinant of workplace happiness. With nearly 4 out of 10 employees planning to leave their jobs soon, it’s essential to ensure you’re not leaving one position for another you dislike just as much. After all, your level of happiness will determine your longevity, productivity, well-being, and job performance.
Meaningful Company Culture Questions to Ask an Interviewer
How can you assess company culture before you accept a job offer? The interview is your biggest opportunity. If you don’t know what to ask, consider starting with the following five questions.
1. What Does Work-Life Balance Look Like?
Does the company expect you to answer phone calls and emails at home? How does management feel about employees taking personal or mental health days? Whether you like to work nonstop or take more time to relax, it’s important to know if you’ll encounter friction about your lifestyle at work.
2. What Is Your Management Style?
If the person interviewing you would be your manager, ask them whether they are an involved, hands-on manager or someone who is more laid back. Your current career stage will likely color your preferences on this, but it’s still important to know whether you’ll be able to work under a manager before you accept the job.
3. How Do You Celebrate Employee Success?
Most human beings want to receive acknowledgment and credit for the things they do well. A concrete and enthusiastic answer to this question will let you know whether a potential employer recognizes the importance of celebrating employees and whether this type of celebration is part of the fabric of the culture.
4. How Does Leadership Address Failures?
The company should be able to explain the repeatable process they have in place for delivering information about a failure and helping the employee overcome it. Not knowing how to handle failure can result in a culture where employees can flounder in their mistakes — this is never good for professional advancement.
5. Is This a Collaborative Workplace Environment?
Every employee has their work style, with some preferring to work alone and others better off completing tasks in a group setting. Before you accept a job, you need to know whether the culture dictates frequent collaboration among employees. The answer could mean the difference between everyday satisfaction and perpetual frustration.
Don’t Let the Opportunity Pass You By
As an interviewee, it’s your responsibility to take advantage of the opportunity to ask in-depth questions. While you won’t learn everything about a company in that short period, you will learn enough to know whether you’re interested in moving on in the process.
When you commit to doing your due diligence in this way, you can be confident in your decision when that job offer comes knocking on your door.
