John Borrowman, CPC
Borrowman Baker, LLC
Gallatin, TN
Everybody tells you that. It’s the definition of cliché. But what does it mean when you’re facing a leap to a new job? What should you be looking for?
That’s an even tougher question when it comes to understanding culture. Because it’s such a fluid term, your questions asking about “the culture” aren’t likely to produce useful answers. There are other ways to peer behind the curtain.
Ask to meet with would-be team members. Is the response eager, or reluctant? (If reluctant, let it go. If you receive an offer you like, make your acceptance contingent upon meeting the team.)
If you get an office tour, do people greet you with eyes-up and smiling or do they pass by looking at papers, a phone, or just the floor?
And while you’re on that tour, how do employees interact with each other? Is there a stiffness or a laid-back flow? Do you hear panic, or excitement?
Watching for clues about culture can help you look before you leap.
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