How Do I Assess This Firm's Culture Before Taking a Job?

Source: SHRM

Joann S. Lublin wrote a Wall Street Journal column last week about assessing the organizational culture of a firm at which you are considering taking a job.  She offered five tips for how to identify warning signs that a culture might not be the right fit for you.   I thought her first strategy was particularly useful.   Lublin argues, "Identify Who and What Count."  Here's an excerpt:

To grasp unwritten norms, discern what is acceptable behavior—especially for rainmakers, said Gail Meneley, co-founder of Shields Meneley Partners, a career-transition firm. She recommended inquiring whether sales stars operate under looser standards, such as completing deals without required internal approval.

“You may feel uncomfortable working for a business where there are different rules for different people,’’ she cautioned.

Small but significant gestures can offer hints about what behaviors matter. In 2017, Brad Neuenhaus became chief business officer of MindEdge Learning Inc., a provider of online education. He did so partly based on a company lunch he had attended as a customer. He recalled being impressed when a MindEdge leader exhibited respect for employees by clearing their plates.

“I wanted to be part of their organization,” Mr. Neuenhaus said. “Culture starts at the top.’

You might think that such small gestures don't matter, but in fact, they often can signal a great deal about the interpersonal and cultural dynamic at a company.  I had a boss who once said that he used to pay close attention to how someone treated a waiter or waitress at a restaurant during an interview process.  These things do matter.   At the end of the day, your antenna should be up at all times as you assess cultural fit.