As a job seeker? That can make it more difficult to find the right organisational culture that suits your work style and values. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to discover what a company’s culture is really like. 

1. Ask your trusted network 

We trust the recommendations and experiences of people we know more than any business-written information. Plus, with LinkedIn’s powerful list of first-, second- and third-degree connections, it’s now super easy to check out who you know in your network that’s either a current or former employee at the company. 

Reach out and ask them questions around what’s important to you – 

• What's the leadership like? 
• What’s the team like?
• What’s the work/life balance? 
• What career development is offered? 
• Would you recommend this company to a friend? 

2. Do a LOT of online research 

Before you dive into the expansive world wide web, get clear on the elements of workplace culture most meaningful to you and your idea of success. Then, it’s bombs away! 

Top of your list might be Google, Google reviews, and third-party review sites like Glassdoor, Indeed, and Seek. 

If they are a product company, then sites like G2 might give you some golden insights, especially regarding customer service culture (given the connection between employee engagement and customer service). 

One final suggestion would be to assess how they show up on social media. Are their leaders and employees actively contributing to industry discussions? Are they sharing employee stories and successes? Does the workforce appear to be diverse and inclusive? 

3. Prepare culture questions for interview 

You know that part at the end of every interview where the interviewer always asks, “So, Candidate, do you have any questions you’d like to ask us?” 

Instead of fluffing your way through this to feign interest, ask some super specific culture-related questions in addition to the nitty-gritty details of the role and team environment. 

• How does the manager encourage balance and wellbeing? 
• What’s their approach to DEIB? 
• What do they wish they knew before starting there? 
• What do they love and dislike most about working there? 
• What’s the reason the last person left the role? 

4. Pull it all together 

Collect all your findings and compare what’s been said to see what aligns. Does your online and network research match with what was said during interview? If there are holes or discrepancies, what are they telling you? 

You should by now have a strong gut feel for whether the company’s culture will be a good fit for your needs. If you have any concerns or you’d like to hear our insights on culture-fit, you can always reach out to your Talenza consultant for guidance.