Landing the perfect job is never as easy as 1-2-3.
First begins the search, which in itself is tough to narrow down to one you’ll love, based simply on a job description. Then, you have to tailor your resume to put your best foot forward, go through the interview process, convince them you are the right choice, actually get hired and then…cross your fingers that you won’t completely hate it. Long story short, it’s hard to get a sense of a company’s culture before you’re hired. Below are a few tips that can help you figure it out, before it’s too late.
Do Your Research from the Get-Go
When you’re on the hunt for a job, it’s tempting to blast your resume out to any employer that’s offering a job that sounds even remotely up your alley. Remind yourself to be a bit more discerning. If you find an interesting job description, do your due diligence and investigate the company’s website, social media, and LinkedIn pages — you may already have a connection to someone that works there that you can hit up to get a sense of what it’s like. Also, LinkedIn does have employee “reviews” on companies that can be helpful in this regard.
Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions
While it’s true that as a candidate for employment, it’s mostly about selling yourself and not being sold to, it’s still okay to ask questions — in fact, it’s great to ask questions. Being curious about the company shows that you are truly interested in making sure they’re just as good a fit for you as you are for them. Before your interview, make a list of questions that consider your own personality, work style and optimal situation. Such as, “Is the work largely collaborative or more independent?” or “How are your departments set up?” — even simply asking “What is your company culture like?” can fill in a lot of blanks. At the end of the day, the more info you can get, the better you’ll understand the internal approach of the company.
Introvert vs. Extrovert Culture
In the work place, it’s pretty much a given that we have to force ourselves to be extroverts to get the job done. After all, assertiveness and confidence goes quite a long way when it comes to working relationships and even project outcomes. But what about those of us who struggle with shyness, or who tend to work better independently rather than collaboratively? Finding the perfect work environment can be quite challenging, but that doesn’t mean you should try to force a square peg into a round hole out of desperation. Do your research and reflect on yourself a bit — are you just nervous about change, or do you have some serious hang ups that are going to become roadblocks to your on-the-job happiness? Odds are, you are hoping for long-term employment, so seeing the bigger picture on any opportunity is imperative.
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