If you thought this article was going to be about finding a job that you love to do, you’re wrong. Of course, there’s no doubt that liking what you do is the answer to success, and for those of you that have figured out your passion, that’s great!
Finding your passion is only the first half of the equation, though. The second half is finding the right company to work for, and a lot of that has to do with the company’s culture. I’ll use myself as an example here. I love to travel and have always dreamed of having a job that will take me around the world. I need to be constantly learning new things, and I need to feel like I am changing the world. I enjoy being social and thrive best in a team environment that operates more like a family, that sticks together no matter what. I love to challenge myself physically, and have enjoyed learning how to use new weapons since I first shot my grandfather’s black powder rifle at the age of 10.
Hearing all that, you’d think a military career would be a great fit for me. On paper, you would be right, especially if you’d recommend the navy (I love the ocean and traveling by boat!) But what about the second half of the equation? The military has a clearly defined culture, and I already know it is one in which I would not succeed. Strict schedules, having to follow orders at the drop of a hat, and not being able to question why I’m doing what I’m doing are all huge pain points for me. When I’m put in a box, I’m not productive--or happy. When I have some freedom (to go along with expectations, of course,) I often overperform, which is another need of mine. I need to feel like I’m doing an excellent job. I will never be happy being that person who scrapes by just doing the bare minimum.
I can’t stress how important this second step is, because if you’re doing something you love for someone you hate, you simply won’t be happy. It’s not just me talking, either. Ohio University says that unique company culture is one of the top four characteristics of the best employers in the United States, and Washington State University agrees that company culture matters on so many levels.
The military’s culture is a well-understood part of American culture, and I’m sure most of us have heard about how great it is to work for companies like Ben and Jerry’s, who treat their employees like royalty compared to most corporate models, or how Netflix fosters the best of the best by having no rules. But, there are billions of companies to work for, and not all of them are as famous (or infamous) as them.
So how do you go about finding a company with the right cultural fit?
Well, first, you’ll want to do your research. Whether you start from the top of the funnel (research employers and then apply) or the bottom (look for open job opportunities and then research the companies before applying,) your first step should be looking at what other employees have to say about working for each business. One of the best places to do this is Glassdoor, where current and former employees leave reviews of their company, and Glassdoor breaks down their answers to questions like, “Do you approve of the CEO?” into statistics that are easy to swallow.
If it’s a larger company, you should be able to figure out a lot about their culture from Glassdoor. But don’t stop there … Do they have a website? A blog? Social media profiles? Take a peek at each one and see if you can find some glimpses into what a day-in-the-life at their outfit looks like. Is their Facebook page full of sales pitches, or pictures of employees doing community service or having fun work get-togethers? Are their employees writing or featured in articles on their blog? Is their Twitter and Instagram clearly run by some stuffy marketing-type, or are their employees interacting with the platforms and adding their own two cents?
The next step is to look up the company’s bigwigs (owners, founders, CEOs, upper management, etc.,) and figure out what they’re up to online. If they have a public presence, what are they saying? For example, “Shark Tank’s” Barbara Corcoran has a lot of financial and investment advice floating out there, but she’s also talking about how to foster happy and creative companies, using her own personal experience running a real estate investment firm. Her article is full of advice that anyone in management can take away and use to become better at their job, but it also makes me want to work for her.
Once you’ve done your research and sent your resume to the best looking options, the next step is, hopefully, job interviews! Of course, you should take all the steps to present your best assets and ace each interview, but only doing that portion will leave the interview very one-sided. Along with asking all of the basic interview questions, you should be asking questions about culture. Ask what other employees love about working for them, and ask why you would love it too. Ask what they have to offer you, and do it without shame or pomp. You’ve already figured out your passion and are ready to bring your best self to this job, so they should be courting you as much as you’re courting them. End of story.
Got the job? Great! You’re almost there, but it’s important to never forget the last step: you are now a part of the company’s culture, and you should start exercising your influence as soon as you feel comfortable. Occasionally, someone walks in the door and it’s a perfect fit from the get-go. But for most, even after all of the research and careful planning, there are areas where we can see an improvement is needed. Now that you actually work for the company, you have a voice. Use it to help shape your place of work into something that you, and your colleagues, can call home for the rest of their working lives. Finding the right cultural fit doesn’t stop when all the external factors are met and understood. Bring the passion you have for what you do to the table in every aspect of your job, and it will pay off in the end. I promise.
