How Positive is Your Office Culture? And Why Does It Matter to Job Seekers?
Posted September 12th, 2017
“Culture” has become somewhat of a buzzword in today’s business world. More job seekers are looking for the right culture and businesses are trying harder to develop their culture to suit their ideal workforce. Ultimately, your office culture represents your organization’s personality and having a positive one is becoming more critical.
But how do you determine how positive your culture actually is today? And what makes it so important in the eyes of job seekers? To help you answer these questions, here’s some insight into the topic.
What is a Positive Culture?
Ultimately, an ideal culture is hard to define as each workplace operates a bit differently. However, positive cultures often have certain things in common.
For example, they traditionally support the growth and development of their workforce, make efforts to remain transparent about relevant information and keep the lines of communication open, and they aim to create a comfortable environment for their workers. In many cases, an emphasis on constructive collaboration and teamwork can be beneficial, especially when employees aren’t handling the entirety of a workload on their own. And ensuring everyone has the tools and equipment they need to be successful is always a plus.
Why Culture Matters
The level of importance placed on company culture by job seekers is higher than ever before. Candidates aren’t just looking for the right salary and benefits; they are actively seeking environments in which they feel comfortable and supported.
Typically, an office culture that either seems cut-throat or leaves workers feeling disengaged is going to lead to frustration, discomfort, and lost productivity. Often, people don’t work to their fullest when they experience undue pressure or stress, and an especially competitive environment that incidentally discourages collaboration and teamwork won’t be as attractive to many job seekers. Additionally, the idea that management is withholding relevant information from their employees harms the culture, as it breeds distrust and can lead to resentment.
On the other hand, a workplace that is seen as supportive, transparent, and communicative can help attract top talent to your office. Employees want to feel appreciated for the work they do and that they have the room to explore their talents, and even take risks, in ways that may benefit the company. Further, having access to critical information from management also builds trust as workers feel kept in the loop and better prepared to face any challenges that may be ahead.
Knowing that a manager has your back and is encouraging your growth and success creates a very positive workplace, and that will certainly get job seekers’ attention.
The Right Fit
Once you’ve developed a positive culture, it’s vital that you hire new employees who are going to be a good fit in the environment. Just because a job seeker has the right hard skills doesn’t mean they will thrive if the cultural fit isn’t right, making it an important factor in all of your hiring decisions.
If you are looking for a right-fit employee to join your team, the recruitment specialists at Bayside Solutions can connect you with some of today’s top talent. Contact us today and see how our customized services can help you succeed.
