Monday, January 24, 2011

What is workplace culture?

By Angela Cooley

When seriously considering a new job, dozens of questions spring to mind: how much money will I make here?  What is the benefits package? How much vacation? How long is the commute? These are all good questions that deserve an answer, but what many interviewees overlook is the critical question that can help them determine whether or not they even want to accept an offer:  what is the office culture?

Every workplace has a distinct atmosphere and set of rules (some clearly stated, some unspoken) that govern how employees conduct themselves. Environments can fall anywhere on the spectrum between extremely formal and extremely casual. When pursuing a job opportunity, determining if you would be a good fit—not only for the position, but for the office team already in place—is of the utmost importance. If you can’t stand wearing a full suit every day, or if the weekly “sharing circle” makes you cringe, it’s better to find these things out beforehand than be hit with unpleasant surprises your first day on the job. It’s also a good idea to ask more than one person about workplace culture. After all, Michael Scott of NBC’s The Office prides himself on fostering a “fun” working environment, but whether or not he has succeeded is another matter entirely!

For Liberal Arts Career Development, office culture falls somewhere in between formal and casual, sort of a comfortable transition from the hoodie-and-flip-flops college environment to the professional world. Because we work in an office environment and may have to meet with the dean at a moment’s notice, dress is business casual, but the atmosphere is far from stifling. We talk, tell jokes, listen to music, and go out to lunch together… as long as we get our work done!

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