FINANCE/ACCOUNTING CAREERS

Culture Shock: How to Evaluate a Firm’s Environment

There’s a job opening at a firm you’ve dreamed of working for, and the hiring manager has asked you in for a third interview. You believe you have the perfect skill set for the position and an excellent chance at receiving an offer. The responsibilities, title and salary are all in line with your goals, but you may be overlooking the most significant factor in determining your eventual on-the-job satisfaction: the company’s corporate culture.

A firm’s culture includes everything from the values employees believe in and the way workers interact with each other to the company’s dress code. When you are in a position that puts you at odds with the employer’s culture, chances are you’ll find it tough to remain excited about the job. 

If you’re currently searching for a new job, here’s how to evaluate a prospective employer’s corporate culture to ensure it’s the right fit for you:

Do your homework

The Internet makes it relatively easy to gather hints about a firm’s culture. Start by visiting the company’s website and look at sections labeled “About Us” or “Work At.” Many have areas for prospective employees that include information about the benefits of working for the firm.

Even the tone of a firm’s website copy and the information included about its executives can offer a glimpse into the culture: Is the writing formal or playful? Does what you see and read mesh with your own values?

If it’s a public company, you should be able to locate the organization’s annual report online. Examine it for more hints about life at the firm. The report may include information about community relations programs or work/life balance initiatives, for instance.

Searching news websites and business portals also can be helpful. You could uncover information about awards the company has won, such as “best of” honors given by Fortune, Forbes, Working Mother, the Society for Human Resource Management as well as other publications and organizations. Or, conversely, you may learn the organization has received negative press coverage recently.

Seek clues while you interview

Your interviews at a firm can provide a number of opportunities to evaluate its culture, although you’ll have to pick up on subtle hints. For example, consider the employees you see as you wait in the lobby: Do they seem hurried and stressed or relaxed? Do workers greet each other with smiles and conversation or glances and grunts? If you’re interviewing before or after typical work hours, how many employees are around? What you observe can provide valuable insight into everything from interpersonal relationships at the firm to expected work hours.

Once the interview begins, be attuned to the hiring manager’s behavior and habits. If he or she is unprepared or unable to give you specifics about the position, it could signal large-scale disorganization. Or if the hiring process drags on, this could be a clue that the company is slow in making decisions. Remember, however, that your interpretations of these details are subjective: If one person is rude to you, for instance, he or she may simply be having an off day. 

In addition to observing the workplace, be sure to ask the interviewer some questions of your own. How does the company reward success? How are projects initiated and executed? What is the average tenure among employees in the department? The answers to queries such as these will provide additional information about the firm’s environment.

Talk to employees

Perhaps the best source of information about a company’s corporate culture is a current or former employee. These individuals can likely provide you with feedback that is more candid than what you may see online or hear from the hiring manager. 

When you visit the firm for your interview, request an introduction to those with whom you’ll be working, including other managers and peers. Ask them what their typical workday is like, including hours. In addition, consider reaching out to members of your professional network or fellow job seekers you’ve met, all of whom may be able to put you in touch with someone who knows the company intimately. Get opinions from multiple individuals so you can formulate a balanced evaluation before having to make a final decision.

Fitting comfortably into an employer’s corporate culture is vital to your career success. While good pay, a nice office and stellar benefits can give a boost to an uninspiring workplace, nothing trumps a genuine sense of belonging – and the truth is you’ll work best where you feel the most comfortable.

Founded in 1948, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, a division of Robert Half International Inc., is first and largest specialized financial recruiting service. The company has more than 360 offices worldwide. Search for jobs now or learn more at www.roberthalf.com.