“Culture will keep you engaged and learning—two things that will help you earn more over time anyway. But if a paycheck is the only appeal of a position, chances are you won’t be happy there for very long.”
Source 4 Ways To Prepare For The Workplace Of The Future by Erin Palmer
Erin makes several good points in her article, and this one on salary and culture is particularly relevant whether you are looking for your next role, or looking to hire someone to come into your business.
Every organisation has its own unique culture, developed over time and shaped by the people,the organisation and its products, services, viability and market presence. If you are considering working for an organisation, it behoves you to learn all you can about the culture to determine if you will thrive or suffocate in that environment. Similarly, if you are considering hiring someone, find out as much as you can about their personal characteristics to ensure they will thrive in the role. What may be a good environment for one person, may be toxic to another.
This goes way beyond having the skills, qualifications and experience to handle the job. Even the most highly skilled candidates can be quickly disillusioned in an incompatible environment leading to poor productivity, high staff turnover, and damaged careers. Not good for the company nor the employee, and best avoided if you can. Conversely, in a compatible environment, an employee lacking all the skills but with the right personal characteristics can quickly become a high-value employeewith a little training.
As the old saying goes, “Hire for attitude, train for skills”. You can always learn new skills, but it is much harder to change attitudes.
Erin’s article also highlights the competing forces you will need to address in,
- Work-Life balance versus investing the time to get ahead,
- Loyalty to current employer while being open to new opportunities, and
- Being the leading voice without being the only voice
Whether you are seeking a new position or hiring a new employee, it pays to to get the culture-match right. Salary is important, but is little solace if you are miserable in the job.
