How to Spot Bad Company Culture

Reader Comments
Back to blog

This is my company to a "T". When I first got interviewed, (by the one in charge), he talked horrible about the previous person in my position. That should have been a red flag right there, but I needed a job. Also, I could not get a clear answer on my pay at first, or if I would be able to hire an assistant. Co-workers were (and still are) very unhappy, and you only get treated well if you are a Department Head or in certain cliques. Recently, I have finished school with two Bachelor Degrees and have landed a part-time internship, while I still work part-time at my current employer. I hope to "wow" them at the internship and get hired on there, where I know I will be happy (I can tell the culture is fantastic).

Sam of KY 9:31AM February 08, 2012

what about when one of your interviews doesnt show up? he is scheduled and just blows the interview off. RED FLAG.

josef of CA 5:44PM February 07, 2012

Excellent points Luke.
For those of you who would like to promote a positive organizational culture, please check out the book 'Follow to Lead.' Yep, I'm the author and I promise it is worth your time.

Don Mercer of MI 9:30AM February 07, 2012

Very true. If they have unhappy relationships with their customers, it's a very good indication of a poor corporate culture. Look out also, for dead wood. Talk to enough people there and you'll quickly get a feel for whether this is the case.

Gago of AK 10:22PM February 05, 2012

It is really nice info , and also very important. good work, thanks for the information. keep it up

Shripad Mane 7:21PM February 02, 2012

Oh how I wish I'd read this article, especially item #1, before taking my last job. I truly should have known better. Though I probably will never forget this lesson, I'm still going to print this off to as a reminder.

Therese of ID 1:57PM February 02, 2012

This can be further extended when comoanies hold interview at other places and not works/office by asking, I would prefer to have a visit of the work place (at least before accepting the offer).
Infact it happened with me when comany selected me and asked to accept offer after that I visit the work place and people. The assignment was very challanging as local political parties had all say in company's day to day working and awarding contracts and recruitment.
In fact that increased my acceptance level as I found a big opportunity to show my ability.

Pradip Dave 3:03AM February 02, 2012

Roberta J. Santos Constantino or aka Bert Director of Enterprise Strategy, Gaming & Marketing Solutions at Las Vegas Sands Corporation is the epitome of ahole. Bert always walks around like she’s still cock of the walk in the Army. Bert micro-manages to the fullest. Bert makes everyone around her feel miserable even her little as$ kisser Stephen M. Keller (The Fat Bastard). Bert calls other people a$$ holes in the company. She is very unfair and her management style is very unprofessional. She isnt even good at what she does meaning she is very clueless in her field. Bert is duplicitous; petty and scheming; back-stabbing; liar; poorly educated; unprofessional conduct; absolutely no vision; and out of touch with reality. Bert has poor hygiene or eating Tabasco source on every shit. Bert interprets that she was promoted to be a director, but the fact of the matter is that her title was changed to a Director , and kept her salary in the same pay scale as a Project Manager. In other words, Bert is a Cardboard Director. Bert has an inherent paranoia that she thinks everyone around her as her enemies. Her mood changes rapidly and her psychotic behavior affects everybody’s work. Every time when the department gets new upper management personnel, Bert gets her anal psychosis and start a war with the management. She is jealous of the management who gets paid more than her and secretly she plans to attack them. Bert’s modern weapon of choice is lies and make up stories about her counterparts and the management. Bert is a master of schemer. She is an expert on office politics. Funny thing is that the upper management including VP/CTO Steve Vollmer, Exec Director Jordan Zommick, and Director IT Compliance all fall for her schemes, conspiracies, and lies. This woman would not survive anywhere without giving into Steve Vollmer Vice President/CTO Las Vegas Sands Corporation. She wouldn't last a month in a real job.

Nattalie of LA 8:05PM January 29, 2012

I'd been searching for a job for a year and found an opening in the 'perfect' place for my talents and skills. The interviewing went very well and everybody involved in the interviewing and hiring process were engaged and helpful. I'd met my work manager and her manager. My work manager was truelly talented though seemed downright frightened (shyness? I couldn't tell and it wasn't my business (I felt) to veer in to personalities at my best interview in a year - know what I mean?
I briefly met her boss who was extremely busy, didn't stay longer than to give me a brief description of the position (which my first interviewer had done) and leave.
I got the job and thanked my lucky stars. Within the first week I found out that all of her immediate and extended staff was afraid of her as she was theatening, intimidating, uncouth, disrespetful and actually had department spies (if you wanted your vacation you 'earned' it by doing undercover activities that weren't company authorized or supported - departmental spying by the IT Support person was one of those 'spy missions' - confronted the IT Support and found out that she would not get her vacation to home (foreign company) if she didn't do these things.
I reported it and I quit. A week later I received a call from her boss and an apology but I don't know that things have improved.
I wanted that job but not at the cost of my professionalism and personal ethics.
Conclusion: I KNOW it's hard to find work but don't stop respecting yourself and your Professional accomplishments and don't be threatened or subjigated by those who will try to take advantage of the times we're living in to extort from you.

Chuck of CA 12:49PM January 23, 2012