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Finding the Right Company

June 20, 2011
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The term ‘corporate culture’ isn’t just a catchy business term. The workplace atmosphere and management style, corporate goals, and company history all contribute to a company’s ‘culture’. Google is a prime example. It is a dynamic IT company created and led by dynamic young leaders. Google offers a mind-boggling array of perks to keep its young employees happy: on-site wave pool, numerous subsidized restaurants of various ethnic specialties, slides (to go downstairs!), dental and drycleaning services, and it welcomes innovative ideas from all levels of the company. By contrast, if you worked for a financial services company, for example, you can expect a less dynamic work atmosphere where, to be fair, there is less opportunity for innovation simply due to the nature of the industry. Moreover, the workplace attire, the expectations on employees, job flexibility, and opportunities for creative thinking would be entirely different. The important thing when looking for work is to know what kind of corporate culture feels most comfortable for you. While the usual jobs available to speech-language pathologists don’t vary quite so much in their ‘corporate culture’, there still are meaningful differences between companies and it is worthwhile to find the right place for you. Some of these differences will be attributable to the managers and administrators themselves.  

Small vs. Large Companies

There are pros and cons for each company size. In a small company, employees may have the opportunity to play multiple roles, expanding their skills along the way. They’re more likely to get noticed for their efforts, with the potential for more rapid career advancement. On the downside, small companies may not have great financial resources, so they may be a little more risky to work for, and your salary may not be as competitive. Large companies usually take longer to sink financially, so you’re likely to have more warning if the company is about to go under. However, getting noticed in a large company can be harder, but there may be a good selection of jobs to transfer to when you become bored in your present role within the company. If close relationships with co-workers appeal to you, a small company may be a better fit.

Know What You Want and Where You Fit In Best

Determine what kind of workplace culture would suit you best. Be honest with yourself. If you are conservative in nature and find rapid change to be stressful, then you should find a conservative company or employer. You’ll be happier, healthier, and more likely to stay in the job. Positions in clinical settings are generally conservative, with set hours and set expectations, with change coming slowly and with great discussion and preparation. By contrast, running or joining a private practice would constitute a small business experience, and would likely be amenable to more rapid change and a more dynamic, market-responsive nature. Working for a manufacturer or supplier of speech-language pathology-related products, for example, would likely offer a more dynamic work pace, greater expectations of total dedication to the company, which can include unexpected travel, long hours, and more pressure (which some people would enjoy).

Do Your Research

During an interview, do your best to get a feel for the company ‘pace’ and culture. If you are given a tour of the company, pay attention to how quickly people are moving around, how busy they look, how the desks are laid out, and how people are working together. Does the ‘energy’ feel right for you? Do you like the person or people who interviewed you? Did their energy match yours?

Ask colleagues, professors, and employees for information before you make you decision. Look for information about the employer online. Perhaps there is additional information there that would give you insights that no one else has been able to provide.

Trust Your Instincts

If you find that there’s something that just doesn’t feel right about the company or the staff you’ve met there, keep looking elsewhere. This is tough to do in a tight economy, but remember that if you take a job with no intention of staying there for long, and especially if you leave during a probation period, it’ll start to look as though you’re a dud or simply can’t make up your mind about what you want, which could hurt your image when you’re interviewing for the job of your dreams.


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