Working for an organization with a culture that matches your workstyle promotes your productivity and overall well-being. Organizational culture is “the way we do things around here” which may or may not be reflected in the organization’s formal goals and policies. But how do you find out about an organization’s culture before you accept an offer, especially during the pandemic when you most likely will not be onsite for interviews? You can do your research in advance and ask key questions during the interview process.

Research in Advance

  1. Look at the organization’s website. How do they describe employees and what type of support is offered, such as affinity groups? Are the organization’s mission and values posted? Is what’s stated important to you?
  2. Look at the organization’s presence on social media sites, such as LinkedIn. What do they post? What have current or past employees posted on Glassdoor?

Questions During Interview Process

  1. Why have you chosen to stay here? Ask team members you’d be working with what they like about the organization. Do they support each other? Are there opportunities for growth? If there’s no opportunity to have discussions with your future coworkers during the interview process, that also says something about the organization’s culture.
  2. How is this organization different from the competition? This might seem like an easy question allowing the interviewer to sell the company, but it also reveals how the organization views itself and its values. Listen for what leadership prioritizes above all else and what employees proud of.
  3. Where do you see the company’s values in action? Listen for consistency between stated values on the organization’s website and the interviewer’s response. What’s values are emphasized? Are these values important to you?
  4. What are some things people do to “fit in” here? Based on the response, do you see yourself fitting in?
  5. Knowing your must-haves when it comes to organizational culture is critical when evaluating a new position. Do you need structure? Is organizational mission important? Is collaboration important to you?

These are just a few self-reflection questions to help you figure out what kind of workplace culture fits your priorities and workstyle. Knowing yourself and garnering information about the company through advanced research and interviews will help you be able to make a well-informed decision about your next step.

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