What a Job Interview Says About the Employer

Pay Close Attention to Understand the Company Culture

Mar 20, 2009 Deborah S. Hildebrand

The job interview process can say a lot about a company. That's why it's important to not only listen, but to be observant.

Most job seekers go into the job interview process with the idea that they need to be prepared to divulge everything about themselves and get nothing in return. The fact is that even if candidates don’t ask any questions in the interview they should be observant enough to pick up on the subtle nuances of the work environment in order to gather information about their potential new employer.

How are employees dressed? How do they interact with one another? How are visitors treated by the receptionist? By paying close attention to the sights and sounds of the business and its employees – in the same way that employers observe a candidate’s personal appearance, interview responses and body language – candidates can learn a lot about the company culture and whether it is a fit for them.

Keep in mind that first impressions swing both ways. Not only are the company representatives forming a first impression about all the candidates they meet, all the candidates have an opportunity to form their first opinions of employers, too; so how they conduct the interview process as well as who is involved can tell job seekers a lot about the organization.

How the Job Interview Process is Organized

There are a variety of ways to handle the interview process. They can be conducted by individuals or in groups and they can be back-to-back meetings that run all day long or single meetings that span several weeks. The method can communicate how the company operates.

If the process is controlled and organized to allow a limited amount of time between day-long meetings, this might mean that the company is considerate of the applicant’s need to take time away from a current job and that they value expediency in completing the process. It can also signal a highly organized, and professional environment.

Whereas, if the interviews are conducted one or two per visit, requiring several follow up meetings, it might communicate a more relaxed, easy going environment where flexibility and patience are desirable traits.

Consider Who is Conducting the Job Interview

There are two things to consider when addressing who is conducting the job interview: How many people are involved in the process and what are they like?

If the hiring company has candidates meet with a number of different people in various positions and departments, candidates can surmise that the position will be interacting with a variety of people throughout the organization. The need to have buy-in from a broad spectrum of people may also mean group consensus and team building are important to the company culture.

As for the type of individuals conducting the interviews, it is important to gauge if there are similarities or differences in personality traits and presentation. Consider if the process is formal with well-defined behavioral questions, case studies and tests or less formal and relaxed.

Particularly note how the company recruiter handles himself. He is the window into who the company is because he is generally the first person a job seeker meets. Is he comfortable in his role and does he make others feel comfortable around him? Is he open with information about salary, benefits, the company or does he seem unsure and lack necessary company information?

The whole idea behind the interview process is to see if there is a fit – on both sides. And just as employers are checking out each candidate, candidates need to consider everything from the types of questions asked to who is doing the asking. Keep in mind that prospective employers want to put their best foot forward, too. So candidates need to keep their eyes and ears open. That’s the best way to determine what the job interview is saying about the company.

The copyright of the article What a Job Interview Says About the Employer in Career Advice is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand. Permission to republish What a Job Interview Says About the Employer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Group Interview