Before beginning this activity, print the student guide
When you go out looking for that perfect job, you will want to find a job that works well for you…a job that fits your talents, values and preferences. While employers will tell you the salary and benefits, the company culture may not be so apparent. Do employees seem to have a good work life balance or are they expected to work long hours? Is the office environment friendly and harmonious or do you get the feeling employees are competing with each other? Do the employees dress casually or is the dress code more formal? These are many other questions about the workplace can be answered as you begin to explore and learn more about the company culture. If you take the time to find the right culture fit, you will be more satisfied and productive at work.
Review some of the Best Places to Work in California
Each year Fortune Magazine asks over 100,000 employees to evaluate their employers. Based on these evaluations, Fortune compiles a list of the Best Place to Work. Quickly review some of the California companies on Fortune’s prestigious list.
- Google: Take the Google Test and then list the Google perk that most interests you.
- Genetech: How many applicants applied for the 2000 new positions posted last year?
- Nugget Markets: Why do their employees say they love this company?
- Booz Allen: Why would you label this company “family friendly”?
Take the Right Company for You Quiz: What were your results?
How to Find a Good Fit
When you are looking for a new job, you need to delve deep into your employer’s culture to see if it’s a really good fit.
Read what Fast Company has to say about Cracking Your Next Company’s Culture.
- How can you learn from the office layout or decor?
- How would you conduct the cab-driver test?
- Why is it important to meet every person who will be in our reporting line, both above and below you?
It’s in the Details
When you visit a workplace, pay attention to all the little things that will give you BIG clues to the company’s culture. On your guide, write down what you can tell about a company’s culture based on the following:
| The arrangement of offices | The position of the boss’s desk |
| Employee’s dress code | Office décor |
| Mood of employees | Pace of interactions |
| Office equipment | Receptionist |
| Lunchroom | Bulletin board |
| Website |