Most people feel like job interviews are one-sided. This is an opportunity for a prospective employer to get to know you and see if you’re a good fit for the organization. But interviews also work in the opposite direction; this is your chance to evaluate the organization to see if it’s a good fit for you.
Because of this, during a job interview, it’s important for candidates to review their surroundings so they can get a feel for the organizational culture and vibe of the office. Is this a workplace environment you actually want to be in?
What to Notice About a Workplace
Pay attention to the following before, during, and after your interview:
- The reception. Pay attention to the reception area and how you are received. Is there an employee to welcome you and provide you with direction? Or did you walk into an empty lobby with uncertainty that you’re even in the right place? What was the mood and disposition of the person who received you? Did they greet you with a smile in polite language? Or did they seem annoyed by your presence? These are indications of many important workplace variables, including the organizational culture, the presence or absence of adequate staffing, and even employee morale.
- Signage. Next, pay attention to the signage and other visual content in your surroundings. For example, is the business equipped with dynamic digital signage that’s easy to see and adjust? Do signs display motivational messages that make the environment feel more inspiring? Are there forms of employee recognition that show how much these employers care about their workers? What other context clues can you gather about this organizational culture?
- Desk placement. How and where are the desks placed? Where are people working? What kinds of desks are there? Do you notice that people are cramped together in tight cubicles or that everyone seems to work at standing desks in an open office environment? There is no right or wrong way to manage an office layout, but you’re going to prefer some layouts over others. This is where you’re going to be working in the future, at least potentially, so can you imagine yourself being happy with this layout?
- Employee mood and disposition. You may not have much of an opportunity to interact with various employees working for the organization, but keep an eye on their body language and general disposition if you can. Not many people are genuinely ecstatic to be at work all the time, but you should at least see some indications of reasonable employee morale. If people are sulking, or if they seem stressed and frustrated, that’s a bad sign.
- Movement speed. Look at the movement speed of people walking around. This can be a subtle indication of the pace of the workplace environment. If people seem to be hustling from one place to the other, marching quickly on the verge of running, you can be certain that this is a driven and ambitious organization. If people remain lackadaisical longer, you can count on a much more relaxed organizational culture.
- Overall organization. Does this environment seem organized to you? Is the layout sensible and logical? Do the desks seem clean and decluttered? Or are there empty boxes and miscellaneous items strewn about the office environment? Some people can thrive in a more chaotic environment, while others prefer things to be neat and tidy.
- The dress code. Dress codes are increasingly becoming more relaxed, but you can find examples of businesses all over the spectrum of possible dress codes. Hopefully, you erred on the side of overdressing for your interview, but this is a great chance to see what the people of the office actually wear on a daily basis. How much flexibility do you have in how you dress?
- Interactions between employees. Do you notice employees talking to each other? Or do you notice any managers talking to employees? There’s a lot to analyze here. Do people seem free to start up casual and personal conversations? Do managers speak in harsh tones, or do they call people into their office to speak privately?
Weighing the Pros and Cons
A few strange things in the office environment shouldn’t deter you from taking a job you otherwise genuinely like – especially if it means a bump in pay and more exciting responsibilities.
Searching for a “perfect fit” job is a highly personal choice, so it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons as you see them. The most important takeaway is to gather as much information as you can, so you have all the data in front of you when you make your final decision.
