Company culture. It’s not in the one-liners on the walls, nor the office deckchairs, espresso machine or popcorn stations. Previously a HR buzzword, company culture is now more mainstream and a critical aspect of business success. So much so that many of us now prioritise culture over salary when it comes to job satisfaction. According to Glassdoor’s Mission and Culture Survey 2019, 56% in fact claim culture is more important than the size of their monthly pay-check. Surprised? Hold-fire, there’s more…
Nearly three-quarters of adults would not apply to a company unless its values aligned with their own personal values. Also, 65% of employees say their company’s culture is one of the main reasons for staying in their job.
Finding a positive workplace culture that resonates not only with your career but also your personal values is hugely important to your professional success and personal wellbeing. Which is why the experts at Novoexec.com have worked together to share six questions you need to ask at your next interview:
Question 1: What is your company mission and what are your core values?
Does the mission and do the values of the company you work for resonate with your personal and career goals?
Question 2: What type of freedom and flexibility do you offer your employees and can you give me an example?
Freedom in the workplace may not sound like a recipe for success but allowing a certain amount of creative freedom and flexible working can generate a happy atmosphere, even in a corporate environment.
Question 3: What priority do you give to the health and wellness of your employees?
We live in a world that is becoming more and more aware of the correlation between physical health and mental wellness. This 
transfers into the workplace. If people are physically fit and healthy, they will be more mentally alert and produce better results.
Question 4: How do you ensure your team is able to freely collaborate?
To create a collaborative culture, there needs to be a focus on communication. This doesn’t necessarily mean more meetings. Teams can be flexible and fluid under this type of company culture. This can be liberating and create a tide of innovation.
Question 5: What measures do you have in place to ensure all employees are transparent and honest?
A critical level of mutual trust is needed for individuals and businesses to thrive. Trust grows through honesty and open relationships. Therefore, this part of the company culture ties in with the collaborative approach.
Question 6: How do you empower your colleagues and teams?
Feeling empowered is, by its very nature, powerful. The results you get from a team of empowered employees far exceed those of a team that feels oppressed or lacks motivation. Deliberately, empowerment is a result of all the other factors above.
In summary, Dale Perrett, founding director of Novoexec.com, says:
The importance of company culture is not to be underestimated. At Novo we understand the difference outstanding leaders can make to a company and invariably, culture is the most important factor in attracting and retaining exceptional executives. Our findings provide practical advice to help people secure a new role with a thriving, vibrant and attractive culture.”
Thanks for this post go to our friends at Novo, a leading executive search and selection company.
I find happiness is more important than anything else.
For me a thriving, respectful, open and creative athomsphere in a company and a general culture of appreciation, reliability and mutual motivation is much more important than money.
I think a positive company culture with mutual trust and respect is priceless.
Let’s put it nicely: It would be fine to have the choice “company culture vs. pay” in the first place – until then it’s just too academic (too ethereal) a question for me.
Im my opinion a positive company culture not only pays off for the employees but also for the company itself, as it creates better work results in the long term. It is like an investment in the future of the company itself. So in the end both should be possible, a fair salary on the one hand as well as a respectful and motivating company culture on the the other hand. Unfortunately, some companies haven’t understood that yet. 😉
In reality only a small proportion of companies will be able to achieve these goals.
Thanks everyone for your comments! I see you are studying at university in Germany – good luck with your courses. Very few large companies achieve these goals, as Jorg says. It happens more often in smaller ones. The question is about your personal values and what is most important to you. In practice, there is usually a trade-off between culture and pay depending on your circumstances and stage in life. You need money to live, just don’t sell your soul. Be an optimistic realist!
Question 5 contains the key for a better life and work. If we all be honest we will solve lot of problems between us.
I find company culture is a very important thing. It helps to feel happy with your job and when your’re happy with your job, than it’s easier to be happy with your life.
But I wonder about the number of 56% of people they claim that culture is more important than the size of their monthly pay-check. Who did they ask? I think there are a lot of jobs without possibilities for company culture (e.g. jobs without teamwork, felxibility, empowerment etc.)
Christian, thanks for your comment. I suspect that move to greater remote or hybrid working will make it more difficult to create and sustain a company’s culture. It will certainly change things.