SIGNS

STINKS

YOUR COMPANY

CULTURE

WHEN JOB HUNTING,

A GREAT COMPANY CULTURE

IS AS IMPORTANT

TO CONSIDER

AS THE JOB ITSELF.

WHY?

WELL, ASIDE FROM THE UNPLEASANT

EXPERIENCE, BAD CULTURES ARE ALSO

BAD FOR YOUR CAREER.

A GOOD CULTURE HAS BEEN SHOWN

TO DRIVE LONG-TERM

FINANCIAL

PERFORMANCE.

WORK FOR A HAPPY PLACE,

AND YOU’LL LIKELY DO BETTER IN LIFE.

BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW

IF A COMPANY CULTURE STINKS

WHEN YOU DON’T WORK THERE YET?

HERE ARE SOME

WARNING SIGNS YOU

CAN SEE IN AN INTERVIEW.

1 THEY BRAG ABOUT THEIR PING PONG TABLE.

Ping pong tables are cool, but they don’t say much about office culture. they’re probably checking off boxes.

2 THE PLACE IS A DUMP.

Working in filth shows that no one cares enough to clean it up.

BESIDES,DO YOU WANTTO WORK IN ALL THAT?

3 ONLY THE BIG DOGS HAVE OFFICES.

This is telling of a rigid hierarchy were managers and employees are at odds.

4 NO ONE TALKS ABOUT CULTURE IN THE INTERVIEW.

If they don’t bring it up, they probably don’t see it as a priority.

CULTURE

Whether you meet them, or just research them, do you like what they represent? If not, that’s pretty telling of the culture as a whole.

5 LEADERSHIP DEMONSTRATES BAD CULTURE.

We all want to succeed, but let’s read between the lines: This could be a sign that they have unrealistic standards for their employees.

6 THE INTERVIEWER EMPHASIZES “EXCELLENCE”.

Is something off about the office? A good workplace should be humming with activity and social vibes.

7 IT JUST SEEMS WEIRD.

Ask what people do together, and if the answer is only “work,” you’ve got a problem.

10 ALL THEY DO TOGETHER IS WORK.

SO IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF EMPLOYERS, TRY FOR

ONE WITH A GOOD CULTURE. YOU’LL BE HAPPIER, AND YOUR CAREER WILL

THANK YOU.

Read Chapter 05 of Does it Work? for a more detailed analysis.