Big New Job Questions

When going into a possible new job opportunity, or just job searching in general, it's important to figure out some ways to predict the culture of the company you are considering working for.  This can be difficult to do, especially if you don't know anyone at the company.  Three decades ago, in a classic study, a team of researchers led by Stanford professor Joanne Martin analyzed stories people told about their workplaces.  Across organizations large and small, private and public, from manufacturing to knowledge to service work, Professor Martin's team found some of the same stories over and over.  The following article describes some of those stories and how they can be used to identify a company's culture.

Is the Big Boss Human?
    This story involves an authority figure who has a chance to act as if they're better than everyone else.  If the boss has an air of superiority which is easily identifiable, this is not a good culture to work in.  This is one of the big debates about Steve Jobs.  Was he a narcissist who felt entitled to special treatment or a leader who sought to bring out the excellence in all his employees?

Can the Little Person Rise to the Top?
    The uplifting version of this story is a Horatio Alger tale.  Colleen Barrett begins her Southwest Airlines career as a secretary and lands in the presidency.  Jim Ziemer starts at Harley-Davidson as a freight elevator operator and rides all the way to the corner office.  In the more depressing variation, a low-status employee achieves great things but is denied promotions.  

Will I get Fired?
    The organization may need to conduct layoffs.  What will the leader do in these situations?  On the unhappiest side you have the former Walmart chief executive Michael Duke, who slashed more than 13,000 jobs while bringing in $19.2 million.  Then you have the more preferable situation with Charles Schwab executives' taking pay cuts to avoid downsizing, and giving employees who lost their jobs a bonus when they were rehired. 

How will the Boss React to Mistakes?
    In most organizations, employees are fired for errors.  Some stories point to a different culture, like the famous one at IBM in the 1960s.  After an employee made a mistake that cost the company $10 million, he walked into the office of Tom Watson, the C.E.O., expecting to get fired.  "Fire you?"  Mr. Watson asked.  "I just spent $10 million educating you."  

Take a close look at all of these stories and try to evaluate which ones would apply to the job you are considering.  They all revolve around three fundamental issues.  First is justice: Is this a fair place? Second is security: Is it safe to work here?   Third is control: Can I shape my destiny and have influence in this organization.  Some other stories that the team uncovered are "Will the Organization Help Me When I Have to Move?", "What Happens When a Boss is Caught Breaking a Rule?", and "How Will the Organization Deal With Obstacles?"
  
References:
1. The One Question You Should Ask About Every New Job. (2015, December 19). Retrieved December 22, 2015.