When looking for a job, the kind of environment in which you want to work warrants priority consideration alongside the other important issues like duties, expectations and salary. Just because you are good at what you do doesn’t mean you are going to be happy and/or productive just anywhere.

Most of us have worked at places we loved and in places we’d never again want to spend most (any) of our waking hours. For me, those places to which I’d never return had almost everything to do with the culture and vibe of the company and very little to do with the duties. The solution to this potential problem is to use part of your job seeking and interview time getting a good handle on the company culture. But, how is that accomplished when everyone is putting his or her best foot forward to make the company and position appealing? In her article, “4 Sneaky Ways to Determine Company Culture in an Interview,” Sara McCord has some insightful questions to help determine your potential fit.

When interviewing, considering trying to get answers to some, if not all of, the following questions:

Ask about the busiest times of year at the organization, and find out how that plays out and impacts the environment. Be ready to digest and interpret what you hear. In general, the response will give you an indication of how cyclical the work flow is. “It’s always the same around here because there’s never a time we’re not busy,” “Don’t plan any summer vacations, but you’ll catch a break before the holidays” and “It’s pretty steady all the time” all give indicators that should evoke some kind of internal response from you. It is up to you to determine if that response excites and inspires you or makes you want to stay far, far away. Additionally, McCord advises you to hear every word in the response. Is the answer directed toward your specific position, or is it inclusive of the staff?

Find out how often the staff meets. I was never more surprised than the day I found out there was no staff meeting whatsoever at one of my places of employment. Actually, it was even more problematic than that; also absent were employee mailboxes or other central or predictable communication avenues even in the most minimal form of a binder or bulletin board. I was far enough into my working years that I knew the problem this presented on my very first day on the job. I also realized I’d taken something like a system to communicate in the workplace for granted, therefore, I did not confirm any form of its existence while interviewing.

Asking about something is seemingly general as a staff meeting will definitely clue you in about not only how information is disseminated and exchanged but also where you will fall into the line of communication. In some organizations, every position from top to bottom is included in a variety of meetings. In others, your position will be included in some but not all. Consider your responsibilities and your anticipated interest in growing in the company when you find out to what extent your potential position is kept in the loop. Then, weigh if that works well for what you know you need to effectively function.

Ask about lunch. I fully admit I was surprised to read this suggestion. However, after reflecting on my own experience, I saw its wisdom. At one point, I worked for a department of a large organization where I had complete freedom to do whatever and go wherever I wanted for lunch. Eventually, I moved to another department in the same organization where I discovered – again, on day one – that my choice to leave the building for an hour and have lunch elsewhere (instead of at the 8-foot table in the middle of a windowless, file cabinet storage closet) was not only unexpected, but I was also suddenly tagged with being unfriendly and not interested in being part of the team.

Avoid your own faux pas as well as gain some valuable insight by utilizing McCord’s suggestion to ask for lunch place recommendations from a receptionist or other person not directly involved in the formal interview process. Even in my position where I was familiar with the area, I could have asked the receptionist, “Where does everyone around here go for lunch?” at the end of my interview. That’s when she would have pointed to the storage closet. At least I would have known.

Be observant about the personalization of offices and work spaces. This criterion probably either sounds extraordinarily frivolous, or it just hit you straight in the heart in terms of importance. Either way, it’s something to take in while you’re on the premises. If part of what you love is getting to personally know those with whom you work, you might feel most comfortable in an environment where family photos and other personal knick knacks are on display. If you are all about business while on the job, you might desire a work space where business-related awards and project updates are abundant but where personal items are at a minimum. There is not an absolute conclusion to draw with this observation, but, by paying even just a little attention to what you see, you will gain a better sense of how you will fit in.

Keep in mind that while you are being interviewed, you are an equal part of the process of determining the right fit. Evaluating the culture and environment in terms that personally matter will definitely help you determine if that is a place where you want to invest not only so much of your time but also your talent.

McCord , Sara. “4 Sneaky Ways to Determine Company Culture in an Interview.” The Daily Muse. Forbes.com, LLC. 2016. Web. (1 April 2016)

Nancy Stoker is a Senior Client Services Representative and Research Associate with ExecSearches.com. ExecSearches provides various recruitment and executive search services for nonprofits including its nonprofit job board.

Last updated on January 15th, 2026 at 11:13 pm