The Job Search: Why Corporate Culture Matters

According to the Harvard Business Review, there are six elements to winning corporate cultures: vision, values, practices, people, narrative and place. Each of these are great, but they don’t all need to be present to make a company’s culture amazing. In fact, great corporate culture is subjective and depends on what the employee prefers.

Corporate culture matters because workers spend a ton of time at work. On average, American workers work 47 hours a week. One in five U.S. workers works at least 60 hours and those numbers rise to one in four for salaried workers.

Finding Your Place

Finding your perfect job, culture wise, requires some research since corporate culture is a matter of taste. Research by professors at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management found that companies with a strong company culture tend to be like-minded. So, to find the best work environment, you should ask friends, and research companies by looking at their career pages (and more) before applying to a position. You can’t fit a square peg into a round hole. So, don’t try.

Corporate culture isn’t necessary contingent on size of a company, though you may find that larger companies are often less casual or less laid back environment than smaller start ups. Culture is also not determined by location, but larger cities may offer more diverse options.

Companies that Get Corporate Culture Right

Amway sets itself up as an alternative to the 9 to 5 work schedule. The company enables its individuals to be their own bosses, work outside of an office cubicle and learn how to start their own business. Amway is growing worldwide and offers its contractors chances to work and travel to new places as well as use innovative technology and science to help develop and sell its products, such as Nutrilite vitamins, Artistry skin care and cosmetics and eSpring water purifiers.

Google is a tech giant well-known for its corporate culture. Its employees, who are highly skilled, have plenty of job options and Google wants to keep them. It aims to keep the feel of a startup and to encourage all its employees to share their ideas. Plenty of cool perks abound (on-site physicians, a dog-friendly office, free gourmet food in the cafeteria, etc.), which enhances its corporate culture.

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Rustic Cuff is a Tulsa-based jewelry company that started out as a hobby. CEO Jill Donovan, an attorney and University of Tulsa law professor has operated the business for four years and now, the company‘s products are coveted by Hollywood A-listers. Even though Rustic Cuff is a small company, it is getting noticed for its company culture. The main reason: Donovan’s passion for her work is infectious. She’s now a highly sought after motivational speaker, empowering people to follow their dreams. This positive attitude carries over to her business.

These three companies are great examples of positive corporate culture. They all offer different perks and management styles. When looking for your perfect job, consider how the company is run and how that will affect your happiness at work and in your day-to-day life.