How to Use Social Media to Research a Company’s Culture

 

You want to be happy where you work. And while a competitive salary, good health insurance, and a great company match on your retirement plan are all important, the biggest factor for job satisfaction is company culture. To be truly happy at work, you need to determine if a company’s culture is right for you before you accept a job.

How can you learn more about a company’s culture? Social media is a great place to start. Here’s what to look for:

Discover what organizations and activities they’re involved with

Companies like to showcase their community involvement on social media. If philanthropy is important to you, check their company pages for any posts about their charity work. If you’re into playing sports, see if they’ve posted anything about the Corporate Challenge or an intramural sports league. If you want to be at a company where co-workers spend time with each other outside of work, see if they do any regular happy hours or other activities outside of work.

Learn the latest news about the company

Through news, press releases, and other company announcements, you can learn a lot about an organization’s mission, goals, and values. Search for news articles about the company on social media. See if they’ve shared any press releases or other information about their work.

Check out pictures to determine dress code

Dress code is a big part of a company’s culture. Do they have a laid back, come-as-you-are approach to work attire? Are they a traditional, coat-and-tie kind of place? Or somewhere in between? How much does it matter to you? These are all questions you need to answer to determine if the company will be a good fit for you. Pictures they’ve posted can help you determine their dress code.

Search hashtags

If you want to be proactive and find companies whose culture embodies what you’re looking for, consider searching hashtags for things you’re passionate about. When you find companies using the hashtag and posting about things you’re interested in, see if they have any job opportunities that match your career goals.

Need more help finding an opportunity at a company with a great culture?

Morgan Hunter can help. During our 30 years in business, we’ve gained unique insight into the cultures of Kansas City companies. We can help you determine what kind of culture would fit best for you, then find opportunities that align with your needs. Find the next step in your career — contact us today.