Companies and culture - do you fit in?

A company's culture often determines how its employees respond to their work and responsibilities.

The culture of the company, which is usually put into practice by the founder(s) of the company, is also essentially the soul of the company. It not only dictates how things are carried out in the company, but it is also what makes the company stand out. It could be from something as small as 'Service with a smile' to bigger ones like 'Going the extra mile' but every company would have some kind of company culture. It is thus important for a fresh graduate to do a little bit of research on a particular company before deciding to join it.

Top tips

Jobs in IT vary slightly across different industries and sectors, but company cultures on the other hand, differ radically. It may be difficult to define but there are certain elements that are easier to pin down like dress code, working hours, office decor etc. However, there is a large portion that is intangible like atmosphere, ethos and staff relationships.

Doing a month's internship or working as a contract staff in the company prior to joining may give you a frank insight into the culture of that company. However, you won't be able to work with every prospective employer. It is thus important to consider these points when sussing out the culture of a company.

1. Key culture words
Even though most companies today have their recruitment department put out a vacancy ad, it is still important to take note of key culture words like 'flexible working hours', 'competitive' and 'hardworking'.
2. Key competency words
These words usually define the people already working at the company and thus can tell you a bit about what the culture is like. Words include 'self-starter', 'creativity', 'strong business acumen', 'ability to work in a group'.
3. Recruitment fairs
Attend as many recruitment fairs as possible and talk to the representatives there. If you find that you are able to relate to them and feel comfortable around them, it is probable that you'll be able to fit into the culture of the company there.
4. Questions
Do not be afraid to ask questions like 'How would you define the culture of your organisation?', during the interview.
5. Network
In whatever you are doing, it is important to network. Here, networking would allow you to talk to your cousin's wife's sister's friend that is working in the company you have your eye on. You can then ask them more direct and probing questions than you'd dare to put to interviewers.

Finally, it is important to give yourself time to adapt and settle into the culture of the company, wherever you choose to go.

The table below gives us a glimpse into what the company culture is usually found in different types of IT companies. Please note that not all companies will manifest the culture described in the table.

Organisation	Business	Location	Dress code	Working hours	Relationships
Computer manufacturers	To design, build and mass produce hardware to the world.	Anywhere in the world where it is the most economical, eg China.	Can range from office wear to casual wear, depending on where you are based.	May have to work in shifts.	Polite and courteous. Friendships however are strongest within the IT department.
Financial IT Consultancies	Help financial institutions develop their financial systems.	Central location.	More formal than others.	Usually enter the office before the sun is up and leave after the sun is down.	Great office camaraderie. Everyone sort of knows everyone.
Mega consultancies	Help businesses to improve using technology.	Central location, but most of the time you'll be at the client location.	Adapt to the dress codes practised by the various clients. But usually very smart.	Can get really long and arduous. May have to work overtime about 5 days a week when on project.	Can get really intense as people rush to finish deadlines. Have the culture of work hard and play hard. Lots of team-building events and the occasional team futsal game.
Outsourcing giants	Take over the entire IT department of an organisation and adopt it as its own.	Anywhere in the world. You may even be working from the middle of the big blue sea too!	Jeans and t-shirt and the occasional checked shirt.	Be prepared to work in shifts as this is a 24hour support operation.	Sometimes strained as most of your non-IT colleagues doesn't work for the same company as you do. Makes it hard to say no and even harder to say yes.
Security specialist firm	To help organisations to toughen security.	Anywhere in the world. May even be a small home office.	Very relaxed. You can even turn up in t-shirt and shorts.	Expect long working hours when on project and relaxed ones when there are none.	Everyone knows everyone else. Strong bonds of friendship are usually formed and can often spill to late mamak sessions after a long day at work.
Software developer	Develop and optimise various software according to client needs.	Usually in a central location with minimalist office decor and comfy swivel chairs.	Formal while meeting clients, other times you can get away with jeans and t-shirts.	Fluctuates. When on project, you start work early in the morning and leave a day or two later. When off projects, you get in to work at 9.30am and finish at 5.30pm.	May get tensed and strained by overwork and sleepless nights.
Web services firm	Providing web-based business solutions.	Often in the city areas.	Smart casual, even though most of the time is really casual.	9.00am-6.00pm with the occasional tea and smoking break. When on large scale web project, working hours can go beyond the norm and camping out at work is not unheard of.	Office camaraderie is high. You often find colleagues who become good friends.

© GTI Specialist Publishers. Reproduced with permission.