“Companies that focus on resolving every customer problem generally treat employees well and tend to have employee-centric culture”
Arun was excited about his new job offer. Honestly, the offer matched about 80% of his expectations, though he was a little skeptical about accepting it. He had to be. He had started on his current job just three months ago. He had thought technology companies were doing well and that AI would have enough demand in the future.
Another thing on his mind was the present slump in businesses, as many strive to endure the job uncertainty post-pandemic. He last job was in a promising startup, at least that’s what they had portrayed. He had never imagined that the leadership would be so rude! It was a pure mismatch of culture and morality. What if this new offer turned out to be another nightmare?
Arun was worried he might drive his career into one more trap, and he was serious about making sure the job was a perfect match before he took another step towards it – there are plenty of stories of misadventures of young professionals in the early phase of their careers.
I am about to share five key traits that can help you recognize organizational behaviors that are conducive to growth – these are traits shared by the companies that are worth pursuing in your career!
Arun’s story talks about a culture mismatch. Every organization has a distinctive culture. Culture percolates from the top down. You may find enough reviews in Glassdoor, AmbitionBox, or mouthshut.com to help you form an opinion about the culture of the company. But let me share another way to learn about an organization’s culture. Look for the reactions of users or customers. Companies that focus on resolving every customer problem generally treat employees well and tend to have employee-centric culture.
“If a company caters to a niche market with less competition, they tend to flourish”
Another factor to consider is the uniqueness of the product and services provided. If a company caters to a niche market with less competition, they tend to flourish. Companies that reap growth usually share the fruit with employees. The quality and uniqueness of products or services can be gauged by reading industry sectoral news, company reviews, and scanning websites. Companies that offer to resolve a common cause of discomfort for people tend to fetch a premium value from the market; and if the company prospers, employees thrive.
A third point to focus on is whether employee policies are attuned to social, cultural, and global trends. These are indicators of an employee-friendly organization. Many organizations strictly follow employee grievance mechanisms and keep KPIs for stakeholders to reduce dissatisfaction. Some have policies on gender diversity and inclusion or help employees deal with mental health conditions. Such details are usually not made public, and websites may carry only a few details. The real gauge of these policies is the experience of employees. Find a friend inside the company, and they may share the true picture.
Fourthly, find out how transparent the organization is in communicating and sharing information. Transparency is another name for genuineness. During the final offer stage, many companies share their present and future business plan, strategic investment goals, or career growth assistance for talent, to keep a newcomer aligned. If a company has a secretive culture and keeps this information classified, be cautious. The best way to tap this trait is to ask the hiring manager during the last stage of the interview about these plans and goals and to note their reaction.
“Transparency is another name for genuineness”
Finally, another key element that decides organizational behavior is financial stability. Scarcity of funds may lead to many hurdles and changes in stakeholders’ behavior. Companies can restrict investment on research, innovation, or upgrading their facilities. Such behavior sometimes becomes claustrophobic for employees as they find themselves stuck in a routine with no promise for growth. People may misconstrue infusion of funds as an indicator of growth and join the company where promises are never met, as these are meant to cover the losses. Study financial reports to decipher facts, consult an insider, find a friend within the organization to get the real picture.
Many people pick up a new job that turns into a disaster in urgency or in excitement. When you buy a car, you spend time researching its functionality, technology, fuel efficiency, and best value for your money. You never go for just the look and lure of commercials! You need to show similar diligence in evaluating a company before you decide to take up an offer. If you progress only when the probability of a match to your expectations is high, your career will find the right flight trajectory!