March 01, 2024
Whether you’re on TikTok, reading a job-related news article, or talking with other young professionals, you’re likely to hear the term “workplace culture” thrown around often. While the meaning of it may seem obvious, it can be tricky to truly understand what it means for you, especially when you’re job hunting. There are a range of elements that go into a workplace culture that often get overlooked, so we’re here to break it down for you.
According to Indeed, workplace culture is “a collection of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that make up the regular atmosphere in a work environment.” Culture affects every aspect of an organization, from team morale to client satisfaction to reaching business goals. Consider it like wind: You can’t outright see it, but you can surely feel the effects of it and even see some signs of how strong it is. Most importantly, culture is how you feel when you’re part of an organization: Do you feel safe? Do you feel valued? Do you feel content?
Identifying who and what makes up a company’s culture is challenging, considering so many factors are at play. Top leadership lays the foundation for it, as their policies, beliefs, and values affect everything from hiring to performance evaluation to bottom-line initiatives. Management sets the tone for the way employees under their supervision experience culture, which then translates to the day-to-day office environment.
From work-life balance, to office relationships, to growth opportunities, all the key elements that go into whether or not you enjoy a job come back to workplace culture. The difference between healthy and unhealthy cultures can be hard to spot when you’re going through the hiring process, but the more you know about what signs to look for, the more likely you are to find the right fit for you.
Signs of a healthy culture include:
Whether you’re in the midst of job searching or you want to check in on your current company’s culture at your next review, here are a few questions that can clue you in on the state of workplace culture:
What is your process for giving and receiving feedback?
Open communication is a key component to any healthy workplace. When you’re looking for a transparent and respectful environment, it’s important to gain insight into their process for not only giving and receiving honest feedback but also taking it seriously with action.
What does work-life balance look like here?
The goal of asking this question is to get an idea of expectations and how much management encourages employees to use paid time off. Green flags include easy processes for requesting time off, flexibility when it comes to responsibilities outside of work, and encouraging employees to not answer emails after work hours.
What values would you say are most visible here?
It’s one thing to have company values listed on the website, and it’s a whole other thing to have them ingrained in culture. If an organization lists honesty as a value but lacks transparency between management and employees, then it doesn’t hold much weight. When values are a priority, they will be clear to see.
What is your management style?
If you’re interviewing with the person who will be your direct supervisor, it is essential to get an idea of how they lead and how you may work together. You might prefer a manager who is more hands-on and involved in your day-to-day responsibilities, or you may be looking for someone who takes a more hands-off approach and trusts that you can handle tasks without much input. Either way, open communication will be a key trait to look out for in any manager.
What is your favorite part of working here?
This is one of my personal favorites to ask in an interview. While anyone can come up with a positive statement related to company values or the mission, it’s clear when someone truly loves what they do and where they work. They will often light up, speak with admiration for their team, and share how they find satisfaction from the work they do.
Written by freelancer Molly Menning.
