How To Find An Organization Worth Working For
Sadly, many “top” companies today would likely flunk a spiritual audit.
Hidden behind the endless talk of organizational values, are profit-driven, high-pressure labor camps trading paychecks -- and diminishing perks – for your soul. All of which means that uncovering a company's corporate culture is a critical task for today’s job searcher. As important as the job itself.
To find a company that recognizes you have needs and desires beyond the workday – children, aging parents, personal interests, church and self -- start with the highest level view of the qualities that make any organization spiritually rich:
**Trust, active participation, mutual respect, and a feeling of
belonging.
**Open, honest communication flowing up, down and across an
organization.
**Congruity -- stated values are healthy and consistently
practiced.
**Leadership emerges and is welcomed at all levels.
The cumulative result of these four patterns is a high "group intelligence" which produces organizations that are flexible, responsive, and able to react to change quickly. These companies respect you as an individual and are productive, profitable entities.
3 Steps To Uncovering
Cultural Truth
You may never completely know a corporate culture until you have
worked at the company for a while, but you can get darn close
with the right kind of research. And do be pro-active. If
there is an organization that you have even a inkling that you
might like to work for – take them through this 3-step process.
1. Know your own cultural values -- create your own prioritized “cultural checklist” considering such elements as communication between employees, how are decisions made and is salary info accessible to all employees.
2.
Research the company's culture. The obvious sources are the
company's annual report and website, but take these with a grain
of salt. These are institutional views used to “woo”
shareholders, clients and potential employees. For greater
objectivity, talk to company employees, or try WetFeet.com or
Vault.com.
3. If you interview...arrive early. Unannounced if possible --
and spend time observing how current employees interact with
each other, how they are dressed, and their level of courtesy
and professionalism. During your interview, ask questions to
get a feel for the corporate culture.
Your decision to work for a company is a very big deal. Look beyond the job and the paycheck -- and make sure it’s a match worth your commitment. ###
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© Copyright 2001-2008 PurposefulWork.com. Reprinted by permission of Patricia Soldati, an IAC certified coach, career counselor and certified professional resume writer who helps corporate professionals advance their careers. For information about her services, visit http://www.purposefulwork.com.
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