Is This "The One"? 7 Ways to Find Your Perfect Job Match

Corporate culture is one of those buzzwords that you hear in any workplace environment. But what does it really mean for you? How does your office culture help or hinder your work and career path? Essentially, corporate culture describes the values, standards, beliefs and attitudes of an organisation. So how do you find the right company to work for using their company culture as a basis of comparison?

The Role of Corporate Culture

Good company culture matters because it makes employees feel that their contributions are valued. Companies with good corporate cultures have happier, more satisfied employees who are more productive in their work. Typically, they also have lower turnover rates.

When the organisation’s culture is inclusive, and employees feel seen by their teammates and superiors, they feel valued. Nowadays, many jobseekers research the culture of the company in an effort to find the right company to work for. Evaluating the corporate culture of a company should be part of anyone’s research when seeking new employment. Companies with positive or reputable office cultures attract better-qualified candidates who are excited for a chance to work at the company.

Why Company Culture Matters

Working at a company whose values are not aligned with yours may leave you unhappy and dissatisfied with your work life, regardless of the perks of the job. From an HR point of view, at times, the person who gets the job isn’t the one who is most qualified but the one who is a better fit for the company and its culture.

When determining which workplace culture benefits you best, consider:

• Work-life balance.

  Do the office hours and workload work for you? Are you able to still have a fruitful life outside of the office?

• Work hours.

  Are your work hours flexible? Are you expected to work overtime? What kind of leaves are you entitled to per year, and how many days per leave?

• Communication and transparency.

  A company that values good and open communication lines between departments, as well as individual employers and employees, is a company worth working for.

• Collaborative work environment.

  Teamwork encourages creativity among team members and thinking outside the box. Collaboration between co-workers usually helps in finding solutions to problems and challenges faster.

• Growth and learning opportunities.

  Does your company offer further training or mentorship programmes? How about extracurricular activities? Maybe your company has teams for hikers or community service volunteers. Find out what your company can do for you.

Types of Company Cultures

When you look back at the jobs you used to have, think: In which company did you feel most at home?

Do you prefer a competitive atmosphere, or do you prefer something more collaborative and supportive? What kind of company will best help advance your career path?

Here are the five most common types of company cultures:

1. Clan Culture

This kind of office culture functions more like a family. Employees are friendly with each other, and co-workers are also considered friends. Due to the collaborative nature of the group, most of the employees will have similar interests. Many who are employed in companies that have a clan culture tend to stay with the company for long periods of time, ensuring employee loyalty and keeping retention rates up.

2. Purpose Culture

Purpose-driven cultures put a lot of emphasis on compassion and contributing to the greater good of society. In this kind of company culture, employees are passionate about their company’s mission and vision. They are driven more by the higher cause than their personal accomplishments. Customarily these companies are focused on sustainability or the support of marginalised or struggling communities, usually on a global scale.

3. Hierarchy or Control Culture

Traditional organisations, particularly large organisations or conglomerates, are usually hierarchical. There is a sense of clarity in a hierarchical culture since its thrust is all about stability and reliability. All you really need to do is follow the pecking order, and things should go like clockwork.

There are different leaders at different levels, all handling teams of their own. Most instructions and decisions are done at the top and then disseminated down the line, usually with many builds added on by the various groups involved in the project to enhance productivity and minimise miscommunication and mistakes.

(Read more: Micromanagement in the workplace )

4. Adhocracy Culture

In an adhocracy (also known as creative) culture, employees are expected to think outside of the box and innovate by creating and experimenting with new ideas and plans.

Adhocracy comes from the term “ad hoc,” meaning doing or creating something only as necessary. The ways of adhocracy are particularly beneficial in places of work where huge risks can result in equally huge payoffs. Innovation is key, and both employers and employees are always looking for the next big thing.

5. Market Culture

Market culture is ruthless and strongly driven by results and performance. The company’s bottom line and financial growth surpass any other concern. Team leaders and heads of departments are usually demanding and expect their subordinates to set ambitious goals for themselves. Employees in a market culture are motivated by monetary rewards such as bonuses and are willing to go the extra mile for financial rewards.

The aim of a market type of company culture is to dominate the market. The company measures success according to return on investment and market share. This kind of culture is very intentional since it requires all its workers to be committed to consistency in their services and/or products.

How to Find the Right Company to Work For

1. Think about the things that are most important to you

Answer these questions: What do you want in a job? What are you willing to compromise on and what are non-negotiables? Determine the factors you believe are essential for your job satisfaction. Be prepared to discuss these details during your employment interview.

2. Try to find as much as you can about the company you are applying for

Many jobseekers overlook this part of the employment process. Studying company websites should be SOP. See if how they present themselves to the world aligns with your values and ambitions. Check their social media as well. See how engaged they are in current affairs or social issues. Maybe there are news articles about them. A quick Google search can help you with that. You can tell a lot about a company by what is reported about them by independent reviewers and publications.

3. Get in touch with the company’s employees

Most HR managers would conduct some preliminary research on you before the interview, so in keeping with the idea of the job interview as a two-way street, you need to do a bit of sleuth work yourself. You may start by asking people you know who may be affiliated with the company what it’s like working for them. Take into consideration their answers. Were they generally positive or negative?

Expand your investigation by visiting JobStreet’s Company Reviews, where users can read reviews of current and past employers. Take note of common responses and make an informed choice about your research. In turn, help other job seekers make smart job search decisions themselves by posting about your work experiences as well.

4. Observe your interviewer well

Your interviewer will most likely be the person you will be reporting to if you land the job, so use the time you have during the interview to gauge whether you would like to have this person supervising you. Of course, just like on a date, there is a tendency for the two of you to put the best foot forward during the interview so look for ‘hidden’ clues.

Was it organised? Were they courteous when they were getting in touch with you? You can also do some investigative work before the interview and look up your interviewer online before you actually meet just to get an idea of what to expect. You may then try to seek out other employees that are connected to him just so you could have a sense of what kind of people you’d be working with.

(Read More: 12 Killer Questions to Ask Employers During a Job Interview )

5. Ask questions about the company’s culture during the interview

There comes the point during the interview where the hiring manager asks if you have any questions. Aside from asking for details about the job, use this opportunity to enquire about the company culture.

Craft your questions the right way so you can gain valuable insight into the inner workings of the company without paying mind to lip service or canned responses from the interviewer. Ask direct questions like, “What kind of person fits in well here and what type of person isn’t a strong fit?” or “If you could change one thing about the culture here, what would it be?” You may also enquire about the day-to-day happenings in the office, like taking you through a typical work day at the company.

Note that there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. The answers given can only give you an idea of the kind of company culture it implements, but that will give you an idea as to whether or not you feel like the company is a fit for you.

6. Have a feel for the company’s surroundings during your visit

Pay close attention to how the people are working and interacting with each other on the day of the interview. Are the workers loud and boisterous or quiet and subdued? Is the work environment light and friendly, or does it feel like everyone is walking on eggshells?

You should also look at the way the office is set up. Is it an open office wherein you get to share your workspace with others, allowing for more collaborative work or does the office adopt the more personal cubicle set-up? Pay attention to these things as it shows you what it feels like to work in that company. Would you be able to work well in that climate?

7. Listen to what your gut tells you

After going through all of these steps and weighing the pros and cons, it’s still you who will make the final call as to whether or not you should continue with the employment application process with this particular company. Listen to your inner voice, and if there’s any apprehension on your part, then do take that as a hint that you might be better off somewhere else.

Finding the right company to work for while job hunting is always a challenge.

A corporate culture that fits you should be one of your most important criteria while looking for a job. After all, we spend the majority of the week in the workplace – you owe it to yourself to find a place where you can thrive, have fun and feel appreciated. You deserve to be where you feel comfortable and at ease at your job, wherever it is, so go out there and find the workplace that is your perfect match. Good luck!

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