How to Determine a Company's Culture When You're Job Hunting

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Most job-seekers have similar criteria when looking for a new place to hang their hat. They want to work for a company that offers a strong income potential, good benefits, work-life balance, and a reasonable commute.

Those are certainly important factors that can separate a true career opportunity from a mere stop-gap until something better comes along.

With that said, if you truly want to be satisfied with what you do for a living, you should also ensure that you have a strong read on the company's culture before you accept any job offer.

We all have different personalities and working styles. Some of us do better in a Google or Facebook type environment where employees are expected to work extremely hard but there isn't a lot of micromanagement and the ambiance in the office is very anti-corporate. Others of us need more routine and structure to maximize our potential.

Getting an accurate feel for a company's culture requires more research than simply asking your interviewer. After all, if the company really wants you, the interviewer has a strong incentive to paint a corporate picture you will find very attractive, regardless of whether that picture is an accurate representation of what the workplace is actually like.

Here are some great resources you can use to determine a company's culture when you're job hunting.

Company Web Sites: Obviously, these won't say anything explicitly negative about the company's culture. But reading the company's mission statement as well as any statements they choose to feature about their culture and values will give you an idea as to what kinds of things they find important.

Employer Review Sites: There are several sites online where employees can post anonymous reviews detailing what it's like to work for an employer, the same way restaurant-goers descend on sites like Yelp to critique their latest dining experience. Many of these reviewers go into great detail about work environment as well as other items of importance to employees such as pay, benefits, hours, and vacation time. Because reviews are written by actual employees and not HR professionals, it stands to reason that there is less reason for them to be whitewashed and for negative factors to be glossed over. However, be aware that online review sites -- whether for apartments, restaurants, employers, or auto mechanics -- as a general rule attract many more Negative Nancys than people with positive things to say.

Personal Conversations with Employees: Sometimes, your interviewer will introduce you to people in the office and allow you to sit down for a private one-on-one conversation with them. This can be a great time to ask questions about the company's culture and receive frank answers. Just keep in mind that there is almost certainly some sort of understanding, tacit or otherwise, between these employees and HR about what is revealed to potential hires.

Recruiters: Financial advisor recruiters in Scottsdale are a fantastic conduit between you and potential employers, as they keep their fingers on the pulse of the financial job market and know the ins and outs of different firms, including their cultures. A financial advisor recruiting firm Scottsdale is a good first stop. You can sit down with a recruiter, let them know a little bit about you and what you're looking for, and they will use their knowledge base to set up interviews at the best fitting firms.