Page 137 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

THE QUESTION LIFE CYCLE

Part III concludes with questions you can ask after you have
received an offer and—in the event you didn’t receive an offer—
what you can do to leverage rejections.

IF THE CULTURE FITS

Most organizations hire on ability and fire on fit. By the same
token, most employees choose companies on the basis of salary
and benefits and quit on the basis of culture and interpersonal
relationships. Thus one of your main goals in questioning,
besides making yourself look interested and attractive, is to
determine if the company offers a culture that you can work
within. There is no route more certain to lead to despair and
turnover than bluffing your way into a company whose culture
is at war with your own.

One way to gauge a company’s culture is by asking a series of
questions and then filling out a company culture survey. This
culture survey was developed by Empyrean Consulting, Inc., a
staffing firm in Dallas, Texas, to help its candidates determine
the culture of the company they are considering. Empyrean
understands that without a good cultural fit, the prospects for
long-term satisfaction are reduced. At this point, take a few
minutes to complete the survey.

COMPANY CULTURE SURVEY

Instructions: Assuming you are comfortable with the culture
of your current or last position, complete the survey based on
your current or last position. Then go back and complete the
survey on the basis of your understanding of what the culture
in the new position is. Alternatively, if you are not currently
employed or are unhappy with your position, complete the
survey on the basis of your “wish list” for your next company.
Then go back and complete the grid based on your estimation
of the company culture you are considering joining.

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