Importance of corporate culture

The job description looked like a perfect match for your skill set, the interview went well for both you and your employers, but it’s now becoming apparent that the expectations between you and your employers just aren’t matching. You don’t feel part of the team and certain issues are causing conflict between you and other team members.

For job seekers and managers alike, company culture is of greater importance than many realise. The values of a corporate culture influence the dynamics in an office, the ethical standards within a corporation, as well as the behaviour of its management. Employees that don’t fit often find themselves leaving a new job or performing with lower productivity. That’s why selecting a company that matches your expectations for corporate culture are just as important as your potential remuneration or your duties.

The values of a corporate culture influence the dynamics in an office, the ethical standards within a corporation, as well as the behaviour of its management. Employees that don’t fit often find themselves leaving a new job or performing with lower productivity. 

What is a corporate culture?

Corporate culture is typically an organisation’s attitudes, routines, beliefs, customs and norms. These often can contrast significantly between industries, Japanese and Westernised companies and even company to company within the same industrial sector. Expectations can vary from the accessibility of senior management to the amount of initiative a manager expects of new hires. New employees can find that differences of opinion can quickly leave them feeling like an outsider or employers may believe they have a misfit in their team.

The importance of work-life balance

Work–life balance is an issue that can quickly cause conflict in relation to organisational culture. A new employee may find that the hours they are expected to work in their new role may be significantly longer than in a previous company, or that there are differences in how flexible an employer is to flexitime or remote working.

During the interview stage it is critical for job-seekers to not only demonstrate the reasons why you are a perfect fit for a new role, but also find out as much as you can about the corporate culture, operational structure or other factors to ensure you will enjoy your work.
Prior to accepting an offer, you should also do your own research into your potential employers through your personal network. It is always advisable to filter this information carefully however, as the information may be subjective, out of date or not completely pertinent to the relevant department or team.

Using a specialist to manage the process

Your recruitment consultant can also be a great resource to help avoid any future culture-clash issues. Regularly communicate with your recruitment consultant as they will already have a close relationship with the hiring company and your future managers. This insight can provide you in-depth information about the organisation and whether a company’s corporate culture will complement your specific needs.