How to determine if a company is a good fit for you

[A].On paper, the job seemed perfect for me: The position was completely in line with my degree, the duties and responsibilities were compatible with my interests and the office maintained a well-stocked kitchen that would satisfy my every snack desire.

[B].Sounds like my dream job, right? There was only one small problem: I simply didn´t get along with the company culture. They favored a more rigid, closed-door, corporate atmosphere, when I would have preferred something more collaborative and open. They were complete clock watchers, when I would have liked a more flexible schedule. To put it plainly, we just weren´t on the same page.

[C].When it comes to looking for a new job, you already know that a big part of the interview process involves the company evaluating whether or not you´ re a good fit for their open role.

But, it´s important to keep in mind that the employer isn´t the only one who needs to identify a good match—you should be looking for that same exact thing. Company culture can have a big impact on how you feel about your work, so you want to make sure you sign an offer letter with an organization you´ re truly excited about.

[D].However, figuring out what a company is like before you actually work there can be a bit of a challenge. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to determine whether or not a company is a good fit for you -before you ever sign your name on that dotted line.

[E].First of all, know what you want. It´s hard to make any decisions when you don´t really know what you´ re looking for. So before you can determine whether you and a specific company would be compatible together, it´s important to have a solid handle on what exactly you wantfrom your employer. Many of us have an easier time identifying the things that we absolutely don´t want. If those are the only things you can think of, don´t worry! That´s still a good place to start.

[F].Start by writing down the things you didn´t like about previous employers, as well as the parts you really valued. There´s no wrong answer here—so from big things to small details, write it all down on your list. This will help you immediately identify what you´ re looking for in an organization, as well as the things you´ re trying to stay far, far away from.

[G].Do your research. Now comes the part when you put on your detective hat and do a little digging. The Internet will be your best friend when you´ re trying to familiarize yourself with a company´s culture before ever walking through their office doors. And where exactly should you look for these culture clues? Start with the most obvious place first: the company´ swebsite. Read through their copy and blog. Do they use formal, direct language? Or is it casual, conversational, and maybe even a little humorous? This can be a big indicator of what sort of atmosphere a workplace is trying to cultivate.

[H].Next, turn your attention toward their social media outlets. Are they sharing photos of their team´s Thursday afternoon chili cook-off or Halloween costume contest on Instagram? Or are their social media accounts strictly reserved for company related announcements and product launches?

[I].A site like Glassdoor is another spot to check in order to find some insider information about what you can expect about a company. However, remember to take the reviews you read with

a grain of salt -many of them are written by scorned employees.

[J].Finally, you can never fail with personal connections. Send a quick message to a current or previous company employee on Twitter or LinkedIn and ask if he or she would be willing to have a quick conversation with you about the organization in general. If you get a yes to your request for a chat? You´ ll be armed with some pretty powerful and helpful information heading into your interview!

[K].Ask questions. You know that part at the end of a job interview when the hiring manager asks if you have any questions, and you just stare across the table blankly with your mouth hanging open? That´s the perfect opportunity to speak up and get your burning company culture questions answered! So yes, you can definitely ask your interviewer about what it´s like to work for that particular organization. Simple questions like, "What three words would you useto describe the culture here?"or "What´s your favorite part about working for this company?" can reveal a lot about what it´s really like behind closed doors. Still not sure what to ask? Try this article for help.

[L].Prioritize your values. What does my dream company culture look like? Well, I could come and go as I please, as long as I was getting the work done. My boss would genuinely listen to and value all of my ideas and suggestions. My co-workers would all be friendly with one another, without ever falling into the office gossip trap. The kitchen would have endlessoptions of pizza and cookies. Oh, and they´d give me two months of paid vacation with an very generous salary.

[M].What are my chances of finding all of those things with one employer? Slim to none—believe me, I´ ve looked. This is why it´s so important to know which aspects of a company´s culture

you value most. Is it an open communication style or a flexible schedule? Focus on the top spots on your priority list, and ensure a potential employer at least checks those boxes.

Unfortunately, this is reality, you can´t have everything you want but a few are certainly achievable.

[N].When you´ re hunting for a new job, you already know that the employer is trying to decide whether or not you´ re a good fit for the position. But you should also look at the process through a similar lens. You may not be the one conducting the actual interview, but you´ re still trying to determine whether or not company is a good fit for you.

[O].Keep these tips in mind to figure out whether you and a potential employer are a perfect match or just a recipe (方案) for disaster. After all, it´s a good thing to know before actually accepting an offer.

Clues about the culture of a company can be found on its website._____

It can be difficult to know the real situation in a company until you become part of it._____

It is impossible for a job applicant to have every expectation met._____

Simply by reading its description, the author found the job offered ideal._____

Job applicants are advised to make a written list of their likes and dislikes in their previous employment._____

At the end of an interview, a job applicant should seize the opportunity to get answers to their urgent questions._____

To begin with, job applicants should be clear what they expect from their future employer._____

Job applicants should read with a critical eye what is written about a company on the website._____

Job satisfaction has a lot to do with company culture._____

A chat with an insider of a company can give job applicants very useful information when they prepare for an interview._____