It sounds like the job of your dreams. Great salary. Stellar benefits. You even have an interview or have made it through the first round. But do you really know much about the company that is hiring? Getting a job is not simply about knowing how to perform certain tasks on deadline. It is also about fitting in with the diverse personalities who already make up the company’s teams. A company’s culture has a strong impact on how your work will get done. While there is no foolproof way to know everything about a company’s culture before you start, there are some ways to get some insights.
Company website
Monster.com highlighted the importance of a company website in hiring. Now is a good time to really take a hard look at the design and information there. Does the company have an extensive site with a blog and news area? Does the company highlight its volunteer or humanitarian efforts? What is the language on the site like, hip and informal or business-like? Even the state of the website can provide clues to the company culture. Is the site unfinished? Are there numerous spelling or grammar errors? A company that claims to be well-established will typically have a professional site. It is especially important to examine the company’s mission statement and goals, as well as its leadership. Does the company seem to emphasize teamwork?
Review sites
While sites like Glassdoor are can be quite useful, bear in mind that some of the people posting there may have an agenda. A disgruntled former employee or savvy CEO can post their opinion of the workplace—but it may not match reality. For companies with many reviews, this is probably not much of an issue, since the sheer volume can likely provide an overview of the general culture. For companies with no or a few reviews, these sites may not be worth your time.
Company ads or press releases
How does the company present itself in recent press releases? Does it discuss how various employees contributed to the successful launch of a product? A company’s ads are targeted at their specific market, so reading through these can help you understand who the typical clients may be.
Ask.
During the initial interviews, you will have the opportunity to ask the interviewers questions about the company and position. Avoid generic questions like “What is the company culture like?” These types of questions will not typically generate a unique response (“Great. Now when can you start?”) Instead, you will need to target certain important areas, such as performance and opportunities. Fast Company developed a short list of questions that can help get a better picture of the company.
Social media sites
Websites like Facebook or LinkedIn can help you gain insight on the corporate culture. For social media, you should examine how the company is presenting its goals. Bear in mind that sites like Facebook tend to be more informal than a company website. Does the company have yearly picnics or holiday parties for staff? What types of news articles or blogs do they re-post or recommend?
While some recruiters or job coaches encourage you to research your interviewers, you may not know who they are before you meet them or they may not have much of an online presence. If this is the case, you may need to resort to some of the alternative methods recommended by Forbes for uncovering more about the company that hopes to hire you (such as going over its financial reports or visiting The Muse). It may seem like a lot of work to research a company, but it can really pay off. Since you will spend most of your waking hours working, you should ensure that most of that time can be spent profitably in a safe, comfortable work environment. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to get a well-rounded picture of a business, especially if it is relatively new. However, if you are interested in finding new opportunities and challenges, the experienced recruiters at Resolute Technologies can help you. Our team has built enduring relationships with organizations and businesses in the tech industry, and we have a strong understanding of the companies that partner with us. Allow us to help you climb up the next step on your career ladder.