How to assess an organisation's culture & job experience when applying for a role?

Assessing how well an organisation's culture and job experience matches what's important to you, will inform your decision to accept the role, and will enable you to optimise your motivation and impact from the start.

So how do you do this?

Firstly, brainstorm your top five requirements for your next role. They can be anything: salary, job title, organisation size, location, preferred role responsibilities, development opportunities or your manager's style. Be as clear and concrete as possible about each requirement.

Then, research how well your new role will fulfil those need-to-haves:

1. Review the job spec and evaluate how many of your top requirements it meets.

2. Go online and browse the company’s website. Does it mention resources for your top requirements (for example staff development/progression, home-working, flexible working)? What information is publicly available about relevant staff policies?

3. Look up the CEO and hiring manager on social media and study what they post and share. Do they come across as the sort of leader you are looking to work with?

4. Read reviews of the work environment on Glassdoor.

5. Tap into your network to seek personal anecdotes about the company and your new boss. Search for people in your work/personal/LinkedIn network who have worked for the company or for your new boss. Reach out, ask about their experiences, and note any patterns that emerge.

6. Ask specific questions during the interview about the aspects that are important to you, and pay close attention to what information your interviewer shares — and doesn’t share.

7. Finally, once you get a job offer, listen to your gut. If it doesn't feel right, work out where your alarm bells are coming from, and request further meetings/calls to ask more questions. It's OK to take time to fully understand the opportunity — both on a professional and personal level — before you sign on.

What else might you do to find out about a company/role during the application process?

Further suggested reading: “How to Identify a Family-Friendly Employer,” by Suzanne Brown