Where a lot of job seekers are mostly driven by a proper paycheck, others might find their trigger in a company that offers them a healthy work-life balance. An often-overlooked factor, however, could be the most important aspect in finding the right career match: company culture. So, how do you decide which culture matches your own wants and needs? Josie has got your back and will provide answers.
A recent study shows that a majority of participants (61%) experienced that certain aspects of a new job were a lot different than they expected based on the interview process. Company culture was referred to as one of the variables that contrasted the most. Regardless of whether you’re at the brink of your career, or you’re hoping to make a career change, company culture should be one of the most crucial aspects of your job hunt. Company culture can be defined by an organization’s shared beliefs and values and is often implemented by leaders and reinforced in different ways. It has a big impact on your ability to interact with your co-workers, career satisfaction, and overall mental health. When you’re on the look for a new opportunity, it is highly recommended to analyze a company’s culture first to make sure you fit in, before it’s too late.
A variety of company cultures
Finding the right fit for you is easier said than done, especially if you don’t have the faintest idea of what company cultures are out there. In an article by Enplug, a clear distinction of five different corporate cultures was made that could clarify what suits you. The first one is the ‘team-first corporate culture’, which is all about employee engagement. If you care a lot about building strong relationships with your co-workers, then this is the culture for you. This type of culture is also a good fit if you value family time since it’s being held in high regard. When your main drive is prestige and performance, you should be on the lookout for an ‘elite corporate culture’, where they only hire the best of the best. If you don’t mind a 60 to 70-hour workweek and love to be under constant pressure, this could be the perfect environment for you to thrive in. The third culture type is the ‘horizontal corporate culture’, which can be seen as a collaborative workplace that lacks a clear hierarchy, meaning that job titles often don’t mean that much. It is a common culture for e.g. startups, and every employee is expected to pitch in and to be flexible. Do you see yourself as a conservative when it comes to work values? You might be off best in a ‘conventional corporate culture’ in that case. These traditional companies – like banks – usually have strongly defined hierarchies, and a suit and tie are the norms. Also, if you prefer to have one specialized role and stick to your job, this is the place for you. The fifth and last type is called the ‘progressive corporate culture’ and is known for being subdued to sudden changes such as mergers and acquisitions. A common trait is uncertainty and change, but if you’re up for a challenge, this could definitely be a fitting company culture for you.
Matching your career needs
The categorization of different company cultures provides an interesting view on how to visualize the way companies handle their business behind the scenes. It could be that it finally gives you some refreshing insights on what kind of company you see yourself working for. However, it might also be the case you’re still not entirely sure of what matches your wants and needs. If the latter is the case, luckily there are ways to find out. On the Josie platform, you can find a wide variety of psychometric tests to discover more about your own career goals. One of those tests is the culture test, which will determine the degree to which you can engage yourself in different environments with different ways of work. The results will provide you with a clear overview of what you value and expect most when joining a new company. Once you have a pretty good idea of what type of culture matches your personal preferences it’s time to answer what seems to be a tricky question at first glance: how do I find out about a specific company culture before it’s too late? Luckily nowadays a lot of information can be found online. Ideally, companies share their mission, vision, and culture statement on their own company website, according to Kaleem Clarkson, co-founder, and COO of Blendme. Another way to find out more is to analyze the way job descriptions are written. If it prioritizes you being able to meet strict deadlines without mentioning flexibility, it could be pretty harmful to your work-life balance. You can also use job review boards such as Glassdoor or Reddit, platforms where you can often find entire company threads to unravel their secrets. The last piece of advice is to just browse their social media pages. Seeing how companies respond to specific events and how they communicate to the rest of the world is often a good indicator of their core values.
