Learn How to Properly Research a Company’s Culture

When you’re looking for a new job, ensuring the role aligns with your skills and experience is essential. However, you also need to go further. If the company’s culture isn’t the right fit, you’ll struggle in the position regardless of the duties and responsibilities. Since that’s the case, researching the company’s culture is essential.

In many cases, it seems like the only way to get to know a company’s culture is to experience it first-hand. However, that isn’t always true. There are ways to learn some details even if you never step foot inside. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here’s a look at how to properly research a company’s culture.

Get Online

There are numerous places where you can look online to learn more about a company’s culture. Begin by heading to the organization’s website, specifically the pages that discuss its mission and values. If there are details about employee benefits, review those as well, as those can give you insights into the culture.

After that, turn to review sites to learn more about the employee experience. Then, go to social media and review the company’s profiles along with any mentions of the organization made by others. You can also look up current employees on LinkedIn or Facebook, reviewing any public profiles you find for more insights.

Reach Out

If there are current members of your network who work at the company, or did previously, they can be assets when you want to learn about the company’s culture. Let them know you’re considering a job there and ask if they’d discuss their experience with you so that you can determine if it’s a good fit.

However, if you don’t have a current connection, you can still reach out to employees. Head to LinkedIn or Facebook and send messages letting them know you’re applying for an opportunity and are requesting informational interviews. You could also check your connections’ networks to see if there’s a direct line, as they may be able to introduce you to their contact, increasing the odds they’ll agree to a conversation.

Observe

When you come in for an interview, you can often glean a lot of information about a company’s culture. Are the workstations personalized or sparse? Is everyone working quietly, or is there a bit of conversation? How does the environment feel? Do employees make eye contact when you or the manager walk by? Is anyone smiling?

Usually, you can get a grip on the general vibe even if you’re just passing through, particularly if you pay attention. So, take advantage of those moments, allowing you to assess the space to get a feel for the culture.

Ask Questions

During an interview, you usually have a chance to ask the hiring manager a few questions. Ideally, at least one or two that you have ready should allow you to learn more about the company’s culture.

You could opt for a direct approach and ask the hiring manager to describe the company’s culture. However, there are also indirect alternatives. For example, asking about the team dynamic and manager’s style or what success looks like in the role can lead to insights.

 


If you’d like to learn more about how you can research a company’s culture, the team at The Squires Group can help. Contact us today.


 

 


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