SIGNS
STINKS
YOUR COMPANY
CULTURE
WHEN JOB HUNTING,
A GREAT COMPANY CULTURE
IS AS IMPORTANT
TO CONSIDER
AS THE JOB ITSELF.
WHY?
WELL, ASIDE FROM THE UNPLEASANT
EXPERIENCE, BAD CULTURES ARE ALSO
BAD FOR YOUR CAREER.
A GOOD CULTURE HAS BEEN SHOWN
TO DRIVE LONG-TERM
FINANCIAL
PERFORMANCE.
WORK FOR A HAPPY PLACE,
AND YOU’LL LIKELY DO BETTER IN LIFE.
BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW
IF A COMPANY CULTURE STINKS
WHEN YOU DON’T WORK THERE YET?
HERE ARE SOME
WARNING SIGNS YOU
CAN SEE IN AN INTERVIEW.
1 THEY BRAG ABOUT THEIR PING PONG TABLE.
Ping pong tables are cool, but they don’t say much about office culture. they’re probably checking off boxes.
2 THE PLACE IS A DUMP.
Working in filth shows that no one cares enough to clean it up.
BESIDES,DO YOU WANTTO WORK IN ALL THAT?
3 ONLY THE BIG DOGS HAVE OFFICES.
This is telling of a rigid hierarchy were managers and employees are at odds.
4 NO ONE TALKS ABOUT CULTURE IN THE INTERVIEW.
If they don’t bring it up, they probably don’t see it as a priority.
CULTURE
Whether you meet them, or just research them, do you like what they represent? If not, that’s pretty telling of the culture as a whole.
5 LEADERSHIP DEMONSTRATES BAD CULTURE.
We all want to succeed, but let’s read between the lines: This could be a sign that they have unrealistic standards for their employees.
6 THE INTERVIEWER EMPHASIZES “EXCELLENCE”.
Is something off about the office? A good workplace should be humming with activity and social vibes.
7 IT JUST SEEMS WEIRD.
Ask what people do together, and if the answer is only “work,” you’ve got a problem.
10 ALL THEY DO TOGETHER IS WORK.
SO IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF EMPLOYERS, TRY FOR
ONE WITH A GOOD CULTURE. YOU’LL BE HAPPIER, AND YOUR CAREER WILL
THANK YOU.
Read Chapter 05 of Does it Work? for a more detailed analysis.