I was recently told that a great question, often forgotten, is one potential employees really want to know the answer to: "What would you say is the overall work environment/dynamic of the staff here?"
This makes for solid dialogue between the interviewer and interviewee. It allows you to read into how one truly feels about their days at the workplace, it's a fun question (so the conversation will end on a good note), and allows the interviewee insight into what was just asked.
It is my belief that the overall 'feel' of the workplace is of upmost importance. It should not be the make or break to accepting the job, but you need to know if it is something you can be comfortable with. And while asking the question and getting the on-the-spot answer is one thing, living the day-to-day action is something else. Finally, if you are on a short-term gig that could potentially turn into something permanent, it is a good time for you to figure out if the days there are something you can swallow.
In my first couple of weeks at Scout, I quickly learned how things are run around here.
- You don't have to dress like you're attending an ice water tea party everyday. And probably never. Dress business when meeting with clients.
- Play music. Heck, blast it. When the phone rings, adjust accordingly.
- Make yourself at home, i.e use the kitchen and kitchen ware, stock the fridge.
- Answer the phone in different accents when one of us calls the office.
- Send one another interesting e-mails (pictures of pets, cool Web sites, corny stock photos)
- E-mail even if we all sit feet away from each other.
- Bring in your bike.
- Bring in your pets.
- Yuengling is the beer of choice for office celebrations.
- Make coffee whenever.
- Make fun of the people that walk by the front of our office who go, 'is this a furniture store?' Or better yet the wide variety of visitors who pop in (cracks heads, frat boys, pet lovers.)
- Come Friday, often Thursdays, drop what you're doing because we're getting margaritas and guac at Cantina.
These are just a few of the qualities that make up our unique work environment. And while a good work environment is very important, there needs to be a balance between accepting what it is and wishing it was something else. If you are like me, you are new to this cast of characters. You are the newest piece of furniture in the office. You adapt to the current, long-standing work environment that the others have known for a long time. Trust me, they don't care what you think—so deal with it.
I am fortunate because I love the way things run at my workplace. And I would love to hear what rules of thumb are instated at your job.
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