JPN-Journal.com News/Laws for Foreigners Working in Japan.

Office Culture and You

Nicole Zerillo
October 15, 2007.

It may be easy to rip off a list on what you don't want in an office culture, but in evaluating your next step, "you have to be specific and realistic about what aspects of your personality lend themselves to a work environment," said Christine Hassler, author of "Twenty-Something, Twenty-Everything: A Quarter-Life Women's Guide to Balance and Direction."

First, you should "make a list of your personality characteristics, as well as lifestyle preferences," Hassler advises. Some good adjectives to get you started are type A, introverted, social, problem-solver and creative. Also, evaluate what kind of environment you want to work in. Do you like a fast-paced office? Do you want the option of working from home? These are important questions to consider.

"Often times, culture is more important to people than the field that they are actually in," noted Hassler. "If you work in a great environment with great people, sometimes what you are doing doesn't matter as much because the working day is pleasant and in line with your lifestyle."

Conversely, if you love your job but hate your environment, you need to discover a corporate model that mirrors your own values. Research factors such as the background and business style of the CEO of the company you're considering, find out if they have set or flexible business hours, what they're expectations of group work are and what the office uniform is.

These are the types of questions people often neglect to ask on their interview, yet the answers can speak volumes about whether the office is a good fit for you.