Identify Your Ideal Culture Fit

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You want to find an organization whose values align with your personal values, making for a good “culture fit”. Ultimately, each component allows you to be engaged in the workplace and perform to the best of your ability.

  • Online Research: Read about company news, CEO letters, and investment reports to gain insights into the culture.
  • Employer Information Sessions: Attending an employer info session is a great way to gather a quick snapshot of life at an organization. Employers consistently work with the CCE to arrange for on-campus and virtual events to expose students to their organizational culture and career opportunities. During these sessions, they are eager to connect with students and share what makes their work/organization unique. Be sure to regularly check Handshake and the Business Career Community for event announcements and come prepared with questions that will help you evaluate whether or not this company would be a good fit!
  • Informational Interviewing:You can utilize informational interviews to ask an employee about how they observe the published mission and values that a company touts playing out in the daily work of the organization. Ask them about their favorite aspects of working for their company and what makes their organization’s culture unique.
  • Job Shadow: Following a professional in their “natural habitat” allows you to envision what a career might look like by observing someone else who is doing it day in and day out. Additionally, it allows you the opportunity to check out a specific company and observe firsthand the organizational culture.

  • Glassdoor: Glassdoor provides a great way to gain insight into the organization by learning from those on the inside! Glassdoor is a collection of anonymous reviews from current and previous employees regarding company culture, compensation, and typical interview format.
  • LinkedIn: There are 55 million+ companies on LinkedIn, making it one of the best places to start when it comes to company research. Simply put in your target company’s name in the search bar, and start reading!

Here is a list of questions you can ask yourself as you evaluate a company’s culture.

  1. What are the company’s stated values? What stories or initiatives can I find in the news or on their websites that align with their values?
  2. Is there an affinity group for employees who hold the same identity as me? What percentage of employees belong to my affinity group?
  3. How many people in leadership roles share my identity? Is it important to me to be at an organization with leaders that share similar identities?
  4. What anti-discrimination policies do they have in place?
  5. What is the feedback culture? What are the practices and expectations for upward and downward feedback? How will I be evaluated?
  6. What is the dress code? What do I feel most comfortable wearing to express myself?
  7. What is the style of work? Is it collaborative or independent? 
  8. How are teams structured and assigned? Do I have a choice or autonomy in projects or tasks?