How to Explore Morale *Before You Take the Job

Do you explore morale before you take that job? It may sound like a silly question yet many people do not. Then, once inside, they realize that morale is not a priority of that company and they wonder, what now? Instead, do yourself a favor and explore morale in advance! Here’s how.

Illustration designed by VizWerx solely for Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. All rights reserved.

How to Explore Morale Before You Take a Job

Let’s now focus on how to explore morale. Prepare in advance and then get to it.

1. Preparation: First define for yourself what you mean by morale and what keeps your morale high. In your eyes does it mean constant happiness? Does it mean great team spirit in good times and bad? What do you expect from leaders in leading morale? This preparation step not only helps you explore it in yourself but also with potential employers.
2. For each job interview, search online for info and news stories about that company’s focus on morale, employee recognition and appreciation. And for those that do, is it only around a well-established day (like March 1st in the USA) or is it ongoing?
3. In the job interview, ask them how they define morale and how is morale there. If they can’t/won’t answer this, it is a red flag. Companies who focus on morale, are proud of it and like to talk about it. Alternatively, if they respond only with examples of having donuts or pizza on Friday, then they do not understand what morale really is. It’s definitely not an event.
4. Explore the company and team culture. Are they into individual competition? Do they promote more collaboration and teamwork? How do they come to agreement when they disagree? Compare what you hear to what affects your morale.
5. Ask what the current employees most appreciate about working there. Again, if they stumble to answer this, it suggests that they don’t focus on it. Companies that explore morale can easily answer this question. You can then ask what the employees would like to change about working there.
6. Ask to speak to some of the staff level employees. Many companies have staff levels involved in the interview. If not, ask nicely. It never hurts to ask. When you speak with the staff level employees, ask them the same questions noted above that you asked leaders and managers.

How do I know that many people do not explore morale before they take a job? Because it happened to me more than once. Moreover, I hear it from many that I coach.

Why don’t people explore morale ahead of time?

Because they …

1. Can’t figure out how to do it
2. Don’t want to come across as needy and high maintenance
3. Need a job and don’t want to say anything that will exclude them out
4. Assume that morale is good or that they can handle it if it is not

Let’s start with the last one first. You may be able to work for awhile in a company that doesn’t care about morale. Yet it will likely wear you down. Then, when you finally leave, you carry the scars with you. Moreover, you may get a reputation of job hopping which you must explain in the next job interview. Likewise, if you need a job so much that you just accept the offer blindly, you may suffer what you didn’t explore.

Lastly, exploring morale will not make you look needy and high maintenance. Companies that care about morale know that it is directly tied to performance and results. Those that don’t, you may not want to work for!

Exploring morale before you take a job does not make you look weak and needy.

Summary

Many years ago, before the phrases employee engagement and employee experience even existed, job interviews were mostly focused on skills and what you could do FOR the company. As new generations entered the workforce in great numbers (like millennials), interviewers’ mindsets changed. Thankfully, good companies now know that quality of life, career development, belonging, and dignity at work matter. That is morale!

So as you search for a job, explore morale. It’s not the 60′, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s or 00’s anymore. If you want to work at a place that focuses on morale, then explore morale and culture fit before you take the job.

From my professional experience to your success,

Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach?

Cover image at the very top by Luis Argerich via Flickr Creative Commons License.

?2019 Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share the URL to this post on your social streams. If you want to republish the content, please email for permission before doing so. Thank you for respecting intellectual capital. For keynotes, workshop and coaching information, go to KateNasser.com or call +01 908.595.1515.

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