How to Evaluate a Company’s Culture Before You Join was originally published on Ivy Exec.
Starting a new job is a big deal because the company you choose will shape your day-to-day life. It may impact how motivated you feel when you wake up or how stressed you are. Besides, it may affect how balanced your personal life feels.
Evaluating a company’s culture before joining will help you know if it’s the right fit for you. While many companies always try to show their best side during interviews, there are methods you can use to assess the culture.
Let’s discuss them in detail.
✅ Pay Attention to How Employees Communicate
Communication reveals a great deal about a company’s culture. During your interview, pay attention to what people say and how they say it. Do they speak openly, or do their answers feel rehearsed and guarded?
The way people communicate tells you whether a company values transparency or prefers to keep things hidden. For example, if you ask a hiring manager about challenges the team is facing and they give you a vague answer, that could be a sign they don’t openly discuss problems.
On the other hand, if they’re willing to share an issue and how the team is working on it, it reflects honesty and trust. You can also pay attention to communication styles in other ways, like:
- Assessing how long recruiters take to respond to your email
- Observing the tone of their responses
- Checking how clear they are when responding
A company with a healthy culture will have respectful two-way communication. Leaders will listen as much as they talk. In a struggling culture, communication will sometimes be dismissive.
✅ Look Beyond the Perks and Paychecks
Perks like gym memberships and game rooms can be exciting additions to a job offer. However, they don’t tell you much about culture. A company can offer beverages to employees and still have a toxic work environment.
When evaluating a brand, dig deeper than surface-level perks. Ask about work-life balance and how employees handle deadlines when life emergencies come up. Determine whether managers expect workers to check email on weekends or if they encourage them to unplug.
You should also look at how the company supports growth. An ideal workplace should offer employee training and have mentorship programs in place. If a firm invests in its employees, you’ll have a better chance of growing your career there.
High turnover often means that employees are leaving because they’re unhappy, despite the perks. Check LinkedIn to see how long employees usually stay at the company. If most people leave after a year or two, that’s a red flag.
✅ Notice How Leaders Behave
Leadership sets the tone for everything in a company. So, if you want to understand the culture, pay close attention to the people at the top.
Observe how leaders discuss the company. Do they focus solely on profits and numbers, or do they also discuss the employees who support it and its core values?
If leaders only emphasize growth, they likely create stressful, cutthroat environments. Executives who balance results with care for employees create more supportive cultures. Here’s how you can figure out how leaders act:
- Watch their interviews
- Read the company’s press releases
- Check out LinkedIn posts from executives
Leaders who genuinely care about their employees will post content that feels authentic, rather than one full of jargon. They’ll also take responsibility when they mess up and acknowledge their peers.
During your interview, observe how hiring managers treat you. Do they respect your time? Besides, do they seem interested in your career goals, or are they rushing you as you speak? If managers seem dismissive in an interview, chances are they won’t treat you better when you’re on the team.
✅ Watch How Employees Interact With Each Other
One of the most telling signs of a culture is how employees treat one another. Even in a brief interview, you can pick up on small details.
If you get a chance to meet team members, pay attention to the vibe. Assess if they seem relaxed and comfortable, or stiff and nervous. Determine if they are free to joke around a little or if the atmosphere is tense. A healthy workplace will have a sense of ease and friendship, even when teams are busy.
It’s good to observe how employees talk about one another before joining a workplace. When someone describes their coworker, ask yourself if they’re being respectful.
If they are, the workplace probably has a culture of teamwork. If they seem hesitant or critical, that may indicate underlying tension.
Social media platforms and sites like Glassdoor can also give you more insights into employee experiences. Still, keep in mind that no company will be perfect.
You’re most likely to find some negative reviews, but you should pay attention to patterns. If multiple people mention the same problems, reconsider accepting an offer.
✅ Ask the Right Questions in Interviews
Interviews aren’t just for companies to evaluate you. You can also use them to assess the environment and determine if you’ll be comfortable working there. Here are some questions you can ask to uncover the company’s culture:
- Can you tell me what you do when a team faces a significant challenge?
- What does work-life balance look like for your team?
- How do you recognize and celebrate achievements here?
- What types of people tend to thrive in this environment?
Such questions will prompt interviewers to give real examples instead of broad statements. Their answers can reveal whether the culture is collaborative or stiff. They also help you determine if the job will meet your expectations.
It’s good to pay attention to how interviewers act when responding to you. If they seem excited when describing their team, that’s likely a sign of a healthy workplace. However, if they hesitate or struggle to find a good example, be cautious.
Choose a Workplace Where You Can Thrive
Finding the right job will give you more energy and motivation. When attending an interview, observe how employees behave and ask thoughtful questions.
Find out if leaders celebrate their employees by reading what they post online. Additionally, don’t just focus on the perks because they may influence you to ignore red flags.
If you’re keen on assessing organizational cultures, you’ll join a workplace that will help your career thrive.
