There is no shortage of jobs in Digital Media for ad sales, business development, marketing, account management, client services and sales development professionals.  As long as you have the  requisite experience, opportunities abound.  “If you’ve got the goods, you can get the job.”

Furthermore, in this hot job market, many of you have multiple jobs from which to choose.  On what basis will you make your decision?  What are the factors that will influence where you will go for your next job?  Compensation? Comfort with your company’s management?  Long-term career goals?

The answers are yes, yes and yes.  There are other criteria as well, corporate culture being an essential one.

Corporate Culture is, in short, the personality and values of a company. This culture is shaped by the vision of the company leaders and is exemplified in their employees, from amount of overtime they put in to the way they dress. Especially in digital media, the varieties of corporate cultures are as diverse as the job seekers they interview. From the traditional values of Hearst to the innovative atmosphere at Google, with a little research, you can find your perfect fit.

A great tidbit to remember when interviewing is that the company is not only looking for the best candidate, but also a candidate that will fit into their specific corporate culture.

The questions you could ask during the interview process can inform you about a company’s culture.  Be sure to ask these questions in an upbeat, positive manner.  They should also be asked during the later part of the interview process after you’ve sold yourself to the company.  Here are some tips that can help you incorporate questions about a company’s corporate culture into your interview process:

1. If you could describe your corporate culture in a sentence, what would that sentence be?

This is a question you should ask every person with whom you interview.  How the interviewer responds, both in words and in body language can speak volumes.  This kind of question also positions you to be a bit more of a thinker, more of a strategic, creative candidate showing the interviewer you’re taking the job interview process seriously.

2. Can you name 3 aspects of your company that you feel sets the company apart from others?

What sets a company apart has everything to do with a company’s corporate culture.  You can gain great insight in terms of if the company is “employee-friendly”, if the company operates with integrity, and if the company’s actions are consistent with its vision.  How much of the positive aspects of the company’s culture is transparent to its customers, employees, and the public at large?

3. What’s the best part about working in this environment that I will still be able to see after a year (or years) of working?

This question speaks to the consistency of a corporate culture, and also speaks to its depth and strength.  You learn about company traditions and what I call the “workplace way of life” – things that stand the test of time.

4. May I speak with a few of your more seasoned employees?

Try to broaden your scope by speaking to more employees from the company.  This will allow you to get a sense of the company from a perspective from someone not normally in the interview process.  You’ll be able to ask them questions about the company, and judge their answers and body language as you did with your interviewers.

Conclusion

You spend a lot of time at work.  You want to be happy, and you want to be in an environment that not only will help you to thrive professionally, but will give you the sense that you fit in.   Be sure to evaluate a prospective company’s corporate culture as a part of your evaluation process.