Any review of the news, paints a clear picture that the economy is still not in the greatest overall health. Due to this situation and the related high unemployment rate, it is tempting for a Job Seeker to jump at any position that is offered and feel good that they landed a job. This is especially true if you have been out of work for an extended period of time.
One of the most overlooked aspects of evaluating your options as a Job Seeker is the anticipated Work Environment. Is it “toxic” (one that is not conducive to job happiness and satisfaction)? It is easy to become consumed with work schedule, pay, benefits, or title when considering a prospective employer. There are many outstanding employers in the Western New York area. There are also some work environments; however, that a Job Seeker should avoid, either because of the overall work environment or it is just not a good match for you.
Let’s take a moment and examine what you can do to try to avoid this “toxic” environment by asking the right questions and using your observational skills:
• Determine Work Hour Expectations – Virtually all new employees desire to work hard and make a good first impression. What can you do to avoid a situation where your boss is a workaholic, early days and long nights are always expected, and challenges in scheduling time off are the norm? If you desire flexibility, then research “family friendly” policies and make sure they are applicable with your level in the organization. This overall topic is a slippery slope for a Job Seeker, as a person does not want to come across as wanting to avoid hard work. In a perfect situation, your networking will provide you with a realistic perspective, especially if it comes from people already within the organization. You can also attempt to piece together your opinion from asking for an example of a typical day, especially if you are able to speak to a potential peer.
• Understand Requirements – I was speaking with an old colleague of mine last week, who left her position of 10 years for her dream job. She left that new position after one month because of the travel requirements. Shortly after starting her new job, she realized that she would need to travel the vast majority of each month. The moral of the story is twofold…one – know your restrictions or deal breakers ahead of time, and two – make sure you fully understand the expectations (any expectation, not just travel). If you feel that a prospective employer is trying to be evasive at all when discussing expectations, then this is probably a troubling sign for you.
• Do You Connect With Your Supervisor? – It is difficult to enjoy any position if you have a “toxic” relationship with your immediate Supervisor. Attempt to engage your prospective Supervisor in a two-way conversation. This can be done by coming into the Interview prepared with good discussion generating questions. Observe your potential supervisor with others. Is he/she respectful…respected themselves? Do you share philosophies on how to manage others? Do you feel you will complement each other?
• Probe the Co-Workers? – If you have an opportunity attempt to meet/speak with your prospective co-workers, then by all means do so. This is often a good way to ask questions of people who may be less likely to have their guard up regarding certain subjects. Find out how long they have been with the company and why they stay. If people have relatively short tenures and stay for the “money”, then those would be potential concerns.
• Make General Observations – There are a number of tactics you can do to assist in making some general observations about a company. Try to walk around a bit…do people make eye contact, do they greet you with a “Hi”, and how refreshed do they look overall? Many of these observations can also be made while on a facility/office tour. You can also tell quite a bit by the general upkeep of the building…how is it lighted, is it clean? A company that takes pride in their surroundings is more likely to also respect their employees. Make sure a tour is provided to you.
Besides your networking and Internet research, a key to acquiring information is asking why the previous person in the position left the company. This is a legitimate question that sometimes catches a person off-guard. If the person was promoted, then the answer is quick and simple for the Hiring Manager. But if there is more to the story, you can evaluate not only the spoken answer, but also the body language to determine if this is an area of concern.
Granted, some employers can put on a show for the Interview, but (generally speaking) how you are treated during the Interview process is a good indicator. Are you warmly greeted by people? Are they respectful of your time by staying on schedule and offer an apology if falling behind due to a late start? Are they prepared for your appearance and not distracted by the Interview? Did everyone make you feel valued and important?
Life is short… it is a shame if someone, regardless of what job or industry they are in, is stuck in a terrible work environment. Try to avoid starting a new job that you will regret due to a “toxic” workplace. Savvy Job Seekers not only evaluate the traditional items, but also consider culture and evaluate the connection with their potential supervisor.
As always, best of luck in your job search.
The following has been prepared for the general information of WNYJobs readers. It is not meant to provide advice with respect to any specific legal or policy matter and should not be acted upon without verification by the reader.
Joe Stein
WNY Human Resources Professional
Feel free to contact Joe Stein regarding questions or comments at:
Joe Stein
