Using Questions to Assess the Company Culture

The time to ask questions is not only to impress the interviewer, but also for you to assess whether the company is the right place for you.

Understanding the company culture is critical to your future satisfaction and performance.

Why it's important for your own satisfaction and fit

A company's culture - its shared values, unwritten norms and general atmosphere - greatly impacts your day-to-day work experience.

A cultural mismatch can lead to dissatisfaction, stress and, eventually, wanting to leave the position, even if you're technically good at it.

That's why it's crucial that you use the interview to determine if you will be comfortable, motivated and able to thrive in that specific environment.

You're not just looking for a job, you're looking for a place where you can be happy and productive.

How to research and ask about the culture

You can get clues about the company culture before and during the interview:

Research Before: Check the company's social media (what they post, how they interact), read employee reviews on sites like Glassdoor, and analyze the mission and values stated on their website.

Direct Questions: During the interview, don't hesitate to ask direct questions about the culture.

You can ask the interviewer how he or she would describe the work environment or what the company values most in its employees.

What kinds of questions to ask to understand the real environment.

To go beyond generic answers, ask questions that invite concrete descriptions of the day-to-day life and values in action:

• "How would you describe a typical day on the team?"
• "How does the company encourage cross-departmental collaboration?"
• "What opportunities exist for professional learning and development?"
• "How are successes celebrated or mistakes handled in the team?"
• "What do you (the interviewer) like most about working here?" Reflect on what type of culture you prefer (innovative, stable, collaborative,