What to Ask Before Taking a New Job

When you are in the process of job hunting, you get eager to land a job that you would love. And when you get an interview call, you obviously get very excited and face the interview well-prepared. At such times, it gets very tough to reject the job offer on the criteria other than salary. But, it is very important to find whether you will be ‘culturally’ fit within that organization or not. Remember, you can’t work where you don’t feel comfortable.  The culture of the company you’re applying for carries tremendous weight on your decision to work there. Therefore, before you accept a job, conduct ‘culture audit’ to assess company’s culture.

What is a culture?

Culture is one very important way in which employees describe where they work. It underlies their understanding of the employer’s business and helps employees orient themselves in the organization. Company culture is the shared values, practices and beliefs of the company's employees. From hiring practices to how people work, make decisions, resolve differences of opinions, and navigate change, the culture defines the unwritten but very real rules of behaviour. 

If you are job seeker in that company, you should take into account its culture.

• If you ask an interviewer following types of questions, you will understand a company’s culture:
• What makes you proud to work at this company?
• How would you describe the culture here in few words?
• What's the process for on-boarding employees, and how do you handle beginner mistakes?
• Are the firm’s executives approachable?
• Is employee input sought for new initiatives including strategy? 
• How are big decisions made?
• Does the firm get together when new sales records or big customer orders are achieved? 
• Could you please give examples of people who succeeded wildly within the boundaries of the organization?
• What’s the difference between an average employee and the best one in this role/department/company?
• Is risk-taking encouraged and what if people fail?
• How does the organization support professional development and career growth?
• Are there formal quality initiatives in place such as Six Sigma or Lean?
• What’s one thing you would change about this company if you could?

Company culture is everything. You can’t work where you don’t fit. Ask a few of these questions on your next interview, and you’ll be sure to find the organization that’s the right environment for you.