How to Figure Out Office Culture When Applying to a Remote Company

How to Figure Out Office Culture When Applying to a Remote Company How to Figure Out Office Culture When Applying to a Remote Company These days many companies with remote employees conduct interviews over the phone, so new hires may never have had the opportunity to meet other coworkers or check out the office in person before starting. So  how do you figure out the culture of a place when you’ve maybe  never even stepped foot in it?  Some of these tips might help. How to Figure Out Office Culture When Applying to a Remote Company Ask leading questions during your interview. Just because you might not actually be in the office for your interview doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions that will help you determine what the office atmosphere is generally like. For example, it’s always a good idea to ask your interviewer what they like about working for the company. Not only will this hopefully lead to some intel about how coworkers interact, but you’ll likely learn other valuable input about your soon-to-be new gig as well. You could also ask what the review process looks like and how often it takes place (assuming this is fairly regular and involves a good amount of give-and-take, you can hope that your new employer values feedback and input), as well as how people are able to give feedback outside of reviews and what they think they best part of their work environment is. Do some background research. These days there’s little left to the imagination- a detailed look into your new office culture is just a click away on sites like Glassdoor and CareerBliss. Take a little time before your interview to check out what other people have said about working at the company. That way if you have any specific concerns, you can ask your interviewer to address them. Talk to people. Hearing about office culture straight from the horse’s mouth is always the best route, whenever possible. If you happen to know someone who works at the company youre applying  personally then starting with them is a great idea (as they are most likely to be completely honest and open with you). If not, a quick search on LinkedIn might find you a connection through another connection who might be willing to chat with you as well. Request an in-office meeting. Even if you’ll also be conducting an over-the-phone interview, it never hurts to ask if your interviewer has  some time to meet in person as well. You could always say that you enjoy meeting coworkers face-to-face, even if most of your professional business will be conducted remotely, and that you’d appreciate the opportunity to get a feel for the office too. Being up front about wanting to find out more about your potential colleagues can’t hurt. Find out about corporate events. Ask how the company celebrates big achievements, fun announcements, or even personal news. If you get a feel that this is a company that likes to celebrate its employees with the proper fanfare when something great or life-changing (marriages, babies, etc.) happens,  you can assume it  really cares about employee happiness. This information will help you determine if youre a good fit for the company culture.