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How Job Seekers Can Assess Company Culture

When job hunting, finding the perfect role goes beyond a company’s reputation or the allure of a job title.

 

One critical factor that often takes precedence is the company culture. The culture of a company can significantly impact your job satisfaction, professional growth, and overall well-being. So, how can you, as a job seeker, assess a strong culture and ensure it aligns with your values and career aspirations?

We have guided thousands of job seekers to find the role and company that best fits their life goals, resulting in a satisfying and rewarding experience. Here is how you can assess a company’s culture to determine if it aligns with your personal values.

company-reviews

Do Your Homework: Company Reviews and Insights

The digital age has given us a treasure trove of information at our fingertips. Take advantage of it.

Begin by scouring company reviews on platforms like Glassdoor, Indeed, or even LinkedIn. While reviews can be subjective, patterns and trends will emerge, giving you a sense of what current and past employees think about the company’s culture.

Pay attention to comments related to the average workload, leadership styles, and team camaraderie. If a company consistently receives positive feedback in these areas, it’s a good sign that the culture is likely robust and supportive.

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Uncover the Core Values

Every company flaunts its core values like a badge of honor. But how do you determine if these values are more than just words on a website? Dig deep into the company’s mission statement and core values. If they resonate with you and align with your personal beliefs, it’s a positive indicator. However, don’t just stop at reading them. During the interview process, ask about specific instances where these values were demonstrated in the workplace. This will provide insights into whether the company actively upholds and integrates these values into its daily operations.

Ask the Right Questions During Interviews

Interviews are not just an opportunity for a potential employer to evaluate you; they’re also a chance for you to assess them. Craft thoughtful questions that go beyond the surface and dig into the intricacies of the workplace culture. For example:

  • Can you describe the team dynamics and collaboration within the organization? 
  • How does the company support professional development and growth for its employees? 

These questions can unveil critical aspects of the work environment and help you gauge if the culture is beneficial to your personal and professional aspirations.

personal-scorecard

The Personal Scorecard Approach

Consider creating a personal scorecard that outlines your non-negotiables and preferences. This scorecard can include factors such as your personal goals, career advancement opportunities, and financial goals. Assign a weight to each factor based on its importance to you.

 As you progress through the interview process, mentally or physically score each company against your personalized criteria. This systematic approach can help you objectively evaluate the alignment between your expectations and the company’s culture, making it easier to compare and contrast potential employers.

Look Beyond the Perks

While flexible work schedules, mental health benefits and generous leave are ways hiring brands used to entice prospective team members, they may not provide a comprehensive picture of a company’s culture. Look beyond the surface-level perks and focus on more substantial indicators.

  • Employee turnover rates: High turnover might indicate a lack of job satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the culture.
  • Communication channels: Evaluate how transparent and open the communication is within the organization. Is feedback encouraged and acknowledged?

Understanding these underlying aspects will give you a clearer understanding of the company’s commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive culture.

Seek Insights from Current and Former Employees

Network with current and former employees to gain valuable insights into the company’s culture. LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for connecting with professionals who have firsthand experience with the organization. Ask about their experiences, challenges they faced, and what they appreciated about the company culture. These conversations can provide unfiltered perspectives that go beyond what official channels may reveal.

Trust Your Instincts

Finally, trust your instincts. If something feels off during the interview process or if the company’s responses don’t align with your expectations, take note. Your gut feeling can often be a reliable guide. If a company ticks all the boxes on paper but doesn’t resonate with you on a personal level, it might not be the right cultural fit.

Conclusion

In conclusion, assessing a company’s culture is a crucial step in finding a role that not only pays the bills but also brings satisfaction and fulfillment. By combining research, thoughtful questions, and a personalized scorecard approach, you can navigate the job market with a clearer understanding of the cultural landscape. Remember, your next career move is not just about finding a job; it’s about finding a cultural fit that propels you towards your professional and personal goals.

Our Impact

In 1995, our founders embarked on a journey that would disrupt the status quo of the executive recruiting industry. We have been transforming companies and lives ever since.

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9,395

First Round Interviews

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3,000+

Total Placements

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47%

Diversity Placements

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$700M

Economic Impact

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Brent Albertson

CEO, Zing Zang LLC

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“ Our experience with Protis Global has been very positive. They have strong multi-industry CPG experience and understand our business model and standards. They know the difference between an “A-player” and a “B-player” in several functions, and the honesty around that standard helps us move faster. Mike and team set up a great process, especially in early canvassing and vetting that helps our leaders engage at the right time and make decisions fast. ”

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Colin Nolan

Executive Vice President, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc.

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“Protis Global’s approach to talent acquisition is marked by diligence, transparency, and a genuine dedication to client satisfaction. Their strategic insights and personalized service have made a substantial impact on our organization, ensuring that we always have the best professionals driving our initiatives forward. The team at Protis Global demonstrates a keen ability to identify individuals who not only possess the requisite skills but also align seamlessly with our company culture.”

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Hilal Tabsh

Chief Revenue Officer, Glass House Brands

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Cannabis

“Over the last 10+ years my experience with Michael Bitar and the Protis Global team has been exceptional across multiple industries. Michael and his team work to get to the true needs of my hiring plan and partner with us throughout the process. They understand our business, company culture, what success looks like, and then propose candidates that will produce results while also fitting into our team dynamic. Overall it’s a great team and experience and I would recommend to anyone looking to hire top-notch quality candidates reach out to Protis Global and Michael Bitar.”

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Peter Iglesias

Chief Executive Officer, Bespoken Spirits

Beer, Wine, & Spirits
Beer, Wine, & Spirits

“I highly recommend Protis Global as a top-notch recruiting agency. I have had the pleasure of working with them for the past 15 years, both as a candidate and employer in the Spirits and Wine industry. In my 25 years of experience, I have found Protis Global to be the most efficient and effective recruiting agency I have ever dealt with. Protis Global has consistently come through for me in the clutch, providing exceptional professionalism and execution in job searches and placements. Their dedication to finding the right fit for both candidates and employers sets them apart from other agencies. I have always been impressed by their ability to understand the needs of both parties and successfully connect them in a timely manner.”

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Soley Van Lokeren

SVP, People

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Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“I have been in the field of human resources for over thirty years, in executive level roles both in-house and in outsourced positions. Michael Bitar is my favorite talent acquisition professional with which I have ever worked. He cares deeply about building a relationship with his clients, learning their business, culture, challenges, and truly understanding the needs of a role requisition. His approach is mirrored by the rest of the Protis team, who are courteous, thorough, and who make you feel like you are their only client. Protis successfully delivered hires for our Chief Commercial Officer role and for three key challenging roles (in both Marketing and Sales). They are simply – the best!”

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Brian Kuz

Chief Sales Officer

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

“Protis is unique in their go-to-market strategy in that they not only find the right candidate for the role, but they find the right opportunity and company for the candidate. Protis Global looks for people who are ready to make a change...I will continue to recommend Protis Global as one of the best placement agencies in the World, as I have worked on every continent and have dealt with the big executive placement firms and the boutique ones. Protis shines above all, and as long as I am hiring, I will continue to go to Protis Global first, if not exclusively.”

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Chris Hall

CEO, poppi

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Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“Partnering with Protis Global has been a game-changer for poppi. They understood our vision and the unique challenges we faced as a rapidly growing brand. Their expertise in executive search helped us find the right leaders who not only fit our culture but also brought the skills and passion needed to drive accelerated growth. The Protis Global team actively took our feedback and adapted the search so that we could focus on what we do best – creating innovative, healthy beverages that our customers love. They’ve truly become an extension of our team, and we couldn’t imagine achieving our success without the team members they helped us to bring aboard.”

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Chad Palma

President of Sales, Spindrift

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“Michael Bitar and the Protis team have been such a pleasure to work with over the years. Not only do they do amazing work with recruiting but we have also developed a partnership between our two companies. Michael and his team provide a crucial role in reviewing my hiring needs at the beginning of each year. Once the review is complete, Michael begins searching for quality candidates that fit the role and culture for Spindrift. He and his team do an outstanding job of finding the right candidates for the position in need. I highly recommend Michael and the Protis team for your hiring needs.”

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John Sacksteder

President, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“From the start, the relationship with Protis Global was different than other recruiting firms.  The team had a deeper level of commitment and desire to learn about our business than I had experienced with other firms. Our company was experiencing a time of exponential growth and our staffing needs were complex. We needed very experienced people across every possible function in the Operation and Supply Chain Teams and we needed them in a hurry. The Protis Global Team mobilized quickly and established a methodology to identify strong candidates and work them through the interview process in a professional and timely manner. Their grit, determination, understanding our needs and culture, sense of urgency and drive to exceed our expectations set them apart from the pack.”

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Kathleen Hutchison

Senior National Account Manager at Arla Foods

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

Kayla was awesome and very thorough in her vetting of candidates. She understood our brief as we were looking for candidates and helped to weed through those who were not a good fit for the role. 

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Thomas Frisch

Chief People Officer at IJW Whiskey

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“The team worked quickly and efficiently to find a unique position.”

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Kim Nguyen

VP of Supply Chain at Lallemand

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

Everyone involved was extremely helpful - Gary, Michael, Ben - thank you!! The team didn't only search for candidates based on the job description, but also the qualities that I look for in candidates. 

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Shashank Gaur

VP of Product Technology & Innovation

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

The interview process was smooth and extremely professional. Ben and team represented me as much as they represented the company. 

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Jeremy Schulman

Regional Business Manager - Foodservice

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

Consistent communication, updates, and detailed knowledge of the client. The whole experience was top notch!

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Blake T. Bermingham

Supply Chain Manager

Beer, Wine, & Spirits
Beer, Wine, & Spirits

Very simplistic process finding the right role for the right candidate...keep up the great work! 

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Don Stohrer Jr.

CEO, Arla Foods USA

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

“We’ve been a Protis Global client for eight years, and during this time have always appreciated the thoroughness of the recruitment process, as the candidates brought to us have been well-vetted, not only from a competency perspective, but more importantly from a [cultural] fit dynamic. Mike and the team have always been highly engaged to ensure they bring us candidates that match our culture. That’s been critical to the success of the candidates that have landed here by way of our relationship with Protis.”

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