3 Types of Business Culture

Which one is right for you?

Job seekers frequently worry what their interviewer is thinking of them. They want to be perfect job candidates, ideal matches for the job description. They want to be liked, both as a person and as a prospective employee.

But job seekers must also consider whether the company they’re applying to is right for them. Even if you’re a perfect fit for the company, if the company isn’t a good fit for you, you probably won’t end up happy.

This is where culture comes in. Before you start interviewing, decide what your preferred company culture looks like. Do you want your co-workers to be a second family? Or is your job a place to get work done and get out? Let’s figure that out.

  1. Family

A family-oriented work culture is one in which “everybody knows your name,” from accounting to marketing to the CEO. Your boss might see your kid’s play or organize a fundraiser when your co-worker’s mom is ill. There are periodic company events, like Christmas parties or other social events, where everyone gets together just to have fun.  The key word here is collaboration—people who like each other and work toward a common goal.

You’re more than another name on a spreadsheet. This can be a great environment for people who thrive on positive encouragement and want to be friends with their coworkers.

However, if you’re more of a private person, and want to keep work separate from what you have going on at home, this might not be the culture for you. The collaborative focus can also sometimes make it difficult to headline your own ideas or projects.

  1. Competitive

In a competitive work culture, the goal is to get the job completed as soon as possible. People go to work to work, to succeed, and make as much profit as possible.

This can mean long hours, and not much time to socialize. It isn’t that people are cold or don’t like each other; they’re just competing to achieve their goals quickly. Nobody is going to ask how you’re doing because it’s assumed you’re doing well, or you wouldn’t be there.

This type of work culture can be great for someone who is competitive feels accomplished by achieving goals. However, it’s going to be harder for an easygoing individual, or someone who needs frequent guidance or affirmation.

  1. Innovative

In an innovative work culture, the goal is to keep coming up with new ideas, breaking those ideas, and coming up with even better ideas after that. Everyone has their own pet project in addition to their main role, and individual input is valued highly.

You might be working on three projects in addition to your main role or get called in to help with someone else’s project at a moment’s notice. No two days are the same.

This is great for self-starters that want to come up with their own ideas for the company. It’s less ideal for those who don’t enjoy coming up with ideas or thinking about the future of the company as part of their job description.

What type of business culture does your company have? Is it right for you? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

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