Unveiling a Company's Ethos Before Diving into the Misfit Occupation
Unveiling a Company's Ethos Before Diving into the Misfit Occupation
How do you evaluate a company's work environment before you start working there? – Healthcare director
This healthcare director is currently in a company where the promotion system is unclear and their supervisor is not very decisive. If they decide to switch jobs, they would prefer more clarity and guidance from management in their next workplace. But how can you truly understand a company's work environment before actually working there?
Understand What you Mean by 'Work Environment'
A company's work environment can mean clarity and management support for this healthcare director, but you might prioritize different aspects – team camaraderie, overall team spirit, company vision. There are numerous components that make up a company's work environment. To truly understand a company's work environment that's beneficial for you, you need to define what a work environment means to you. (Start with this list of 40 elements to help guide your career choices).
Next, you need to determine how you'll measure your most significant aspects. For example, if clarity matters, do you mean salary transparency or clarity in company strategy, financial standing, management changes, and/or something else? For management support, do you mean opportunities to interact with senior executives, effective management on a daily basis, consistent acknowledgment of employee suggestions, and/or something else? If you tie a company's work environment to its vision, which visions do you find meaningful?
Gather Information from Multiple Sources
*During the hiring process, you'll have an opportunity to ask questions, so your interviewers make up one source of information for understanding a company's work environment. However, you're still selling yourself during interviews, so your majority of questions should focus on the job itself and how you can contribute best. When you do ask about the company's work environment, you can't delve too deeply and risk coming off as confrontational. Until you're hired, you need to always appear eager to join.
Try to find people outside of the hiring process, and preferably friendly to you, so you can speak honestly. Talking to people who have left the company may offer even more insights – just keep in mind to take their complaints with a grain of salt since they're former employees. Consider what their role was within the company so you can weigh the relevance of their insights to where you will be placed. Also, try to get some context into why they left so you can assess their objectivity.
Finally, turn to published sources, such as Glassdoor or media coverage. Look at company rankings, such as Best Places to Work, where articles might provide details about different work environments. Your alma mater, especially if you went to a business school, might offer information on various employers.
Remember, You Influence the Work Environment
Whatever you discover about a company's work environment, keep in mind that you impact the work environment once you join. If you join in a management position, you can change the work environment for your immediate team. Even as an individual contributor, you impact the work environment in the way you collaborate with colleagues, communicate with senior leaders, and participate in firmwide initiatives.
As you explore a company's work environment, you'll inevitably hear criticism. Don't be too hasty to dismiss a potential job (the latest job market data indicates a cooling trend!). If you hear mixed reviews on the work environment, remember that you may be able to find a supportive network once you start, or your immediate department might not have the same drawbacks as other parts of the company, or you can try to affect change from within.*
In the healthcare director's perspective, seeking a new job might involve prioritizing clear management guidance and leadership, as their current work environment lacks these aspects. To evaluate a company's work environment, one should not only consider factors like team camaraderie and company vision but also define what these elements mean personally, such as seeking salary transparency for clarity or opportunities to interact with senior executives for management support.