Assessing Organizational Culture (Korbel MA Students)

One of the most important things to consider when beginning your job search as you prepare to graduate from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies is what kind of culture you want your future employer to have. Organizational culture is often overlooked in favor of benefits, salary, or desired location, but consider just how much time you will spend with your employer, so, culture matters. The 2021 APSIA Meeting compiled the following 11 questions for students to consider about assessing organizational culture.

Ask Yourself:

  1. Who am I interviewing with (more senior, more junior, stakeholders, or just colleagues) and what does this signal about the organization?
  2. Given that (issue important to you) has been in the news or global consciousness, what specific steps has this organization taken to address that topic?
  3. What leadership styles have I encountered? How did past supervisors lead? What did I like/dislike about those styles? What do I need to thrive?

Ask Them:

  1. What is the internal sense of competition and cooperation? Of security and insecurity?
  2. How do you prioritize or create your team culture?
  3. What steps has the organization taken to lift up everyone in the environment?
  4. How much ability do employees have to be flexible in their work?
  5. How has the organization progressed on its stated goals? What are your organization’s plans to keep moving forward?
  6. Does the organization have affinity groups? What do they do? How long have they been established? How often do they meet?
  7. What is the average tenure in this position? What is the average tenure overall? How often do people move up?
  8. How has the organization adapted or changed during the pandemic? What changes do you think will remain?

Questions directly from 2021 APSIA Meeting.

By Korbel Careers
Korbel Careers