Workplace Culture is Everything, But How Do You Really Get the Scoop?

Photo by Unsplash

Let’s say you’re in job search mode. You’ve taken the time to get clear on your values, your strengths, and what you need from your next opportunity. 

Now, all your hard work has paid off and you’ve landed some interviews. (Yay!) 

You’ve probably heard that interviews are a two-way street. But how do you really get a sense of an organization’s culture during the interview process?  The hiring team may not be the most candid source of information, and asking what you really want to know too directly could put them off.

As a coach, I love to ask questions that I don’t know the answer to, so I posed the question to the wise folks in my LinkedIn network. 

Their best advice? Ask. Ask about the culture, and ask as many people as you can. 

• Marisa Rood, who recently pivoted from client services to the arts, suggests asking each person you meet during the interview process about the organization’s culture.
  
  “Asking each person ensures that you get a good read, and also shows them that you care,” Marisa said.
  

• Sarene Marshall, a chief sustainability officer, suggests talking to people outside of the organization. 
  
  “Good friends or colleagues who have interacted with the company as service providers, clients or partners also often have a good read and will be more likely to tell you the truth than the hiring team, which is usually in sales mode,” she said.
  

• Jenna Celmer, a co-founder of the outdoor industry community site Basecamp, even provided a handy script for conversations with current and former employees:

  • “I’m considering an offer with [company] and have three questions I’d love to ask you about your time there!

    • What’s your favorite memory?

    • How much paid time off did you take last year?

    • Do you have autonomy over your time and work?

A few other questions to help you assess workplace culture include: 

• “Ask what meetings are like – where, duration, frequency of staff meetings and who runs them, etc. Will you be scheduled from sun up to sun down?” - Rachel Dreyfus, market research executive.
  

• “ Is caretaking mentioned? We will all become caretakers. Do they provide parental leave?  What about leave for aging parents or flexible schedules?” – Jenna Celmer. 
  

• “Tell me about a time when your sponsorship for a female colleague propelled them to growth and advancement.” - Emily Callaghan, cowner of DESIGN+ Labs.

The takeaway: to get a true understanding of a company or organization’s culture before accepting a job, don’t be afraid to ask. Just make sure that your questions are thoughtful and strategic. The ideas above can give you a good starting point.