What if I told you that landing a well-paying job in your chosen career only takes you halfway through your journey to actualizing the corporate dream? That's right! In this scenario, the corporate dream is landing your dream job, and a huge paycheck only takes you halfway there.
Ideally, getting a dream job means landing a well-paying job in your chosen career in a company that has a positive work environment. Why? Well, here is the thing, you will be spending a sizeable amount of your time in the workplace, and in the long run, the nature of a company's work environment will become the difference between a job you love and one you, well, don't love.
So, while you are keeping your eye out for job offers that come with attractive salaries, it is equally important that you take note of the said company's work environment. To help you do so, here are some tips on how to spot a company with a positive work environment.
The interview
Generally, an interview is your first look into a company as it would be the first real interaction you have with the company’s management. So here are some things to look out for:
Online reviews and awards list
Apps are not the only things that get online reviews; companies and businesses get reviews, too, and that can be an excellent place to kick start your investigation. There are tons of online sites where present and former employees of a company can leave reviews about the kind of work environment a company has. Researching for various awards lists and “Employer of Choice” rankings can give you a really good idea of the kind of work environment a company offers. All this information is available online, and with a little bit of research, you can dig up the dirt or gold regarding a particular company.
Talk to employees
Online searches are great, and all, but nothing compares to hearing it from the horse’s mouth. Talking to present employees would be a great source of information about a company or business.
You can start the conversation light, but it is best to hit the nail on the head and ask them point-blank, “what is the work environment like at this company?” Ask them how flexible the work hours are and how management-employee relations are like. You should also attempt to figure out if the human resource department is really concerned about employee rights or if they wait until things are out of control before they act.
How friendly staff are outside of work, and are there fun activities organized by the company to build employee morale? How stiff are company policies? These questions directed at a current staff will give a clear idea of what the work environment is like. Take note; if an employee is reluctant to answer or has suggestive facial expressions while answering, this could mean they are either not allowed to talk about it or simply don’t care enough about the company to educate a potential colleague, neither of which is a good thing.
Company relations and communication
Communication between you and a potential employer might not seem like much of a big deal, but in actuality, it is. If a hiring manager or company is scheduled to call at a particular time and they don’t, that could be a red flag. If you submit a requested document or finish up an interview, how quickly do you get a response, and do they make efforts to relay messages properly? Are emails well constructed, or do they make a lackluster effort at communicating with you? This might not seem problematic at first, but they don’t tell well of a company’s value system.
Employee turnover
Knowing how long employees stay with a company or an organization can speak to how well they are treated during their time there. Companies that value their employees and make effort to treat them right don’t commonly lose them in less than two years. Most employees who leave a company within a year or two of employment generally find the work environment unfavorable or have no potential for growth and advancement. Researching a company's connections through LinkedIn can give you a scoop of how long employees stay at the company.
Company flexibility
When trying to land a job at an organization, always check how flexible their work hours are. Do they offer work-from-home options? Are their work hours adjustable to fit with important family schedules? These show how much a company values their employee’s work-life balance and how much they understand that “if a job can be completed from home, it should occasionally be allowed.” What are the company policies on bringing children to work in cases of emergencies? All this information might be made available in the job description, but you could also check the company site or research online from past or present employees' experience.
Potential for growth opportunities
Does a potential company have professional training or educational opportunities for its employees? Will there be professional seminars? These questions should be answered to measure the growth opportunities a company offers.
Companies that make efforts to invest in their employees commonly have more positive work environments. Check out the company structure and terms for advancement and promotions. A company that presents opportunities for employees to demonstrate their leadership skills or showcase whatever professional talent they may have will have a great working environment. Don’t be shy to ask these questions during an interview; it shows your confidence and desire to grow with the company.
Job satisfaction
While a nurturing and positive work environment should be something you look out for, you should also seek job fulfillment and satisfaction. Accepting a job just because you qualify for it when you have no interest or love for it is something that will greatly impact your time there. In the end, you might be the one constituting a hostile work environment for other employees.
If a job requires a lot of oversight and supervision and you’re the type to work independently, then it is pretty obvious that you will be miserable at your job because it isn’t what you are good at. Be sure to ask your interviewers what your daily job requirements would look like to get a feel of what your position entails.
Company stance on health and family
A company that values offering comprehensive health plans and insurance, as well as other health-related programs, will foster a healthy work environment. A company that focuses on a healthy lifestyle for its employees by serving up a healthy food menu in its cafeteria and has a well-stocked gym or membership for employees will have dedicated staff loyal to it. It is a no-brainer.
With that being said, these were some of the basic telltale signs of a company with a positive work environment, and although they may not check all the boxes, they should cover a considerable number of things on this list.
