During job interviews, hiring managers will likely ask you about your work style. No, they aren’t looking for a rundown of your office wardrobe. Rather, they are hoping to uncover clues that will help them discern your fitness for the role. Matching your work style to your employer is essential for your success. If your style of attacking work doesn’t mesh well with the corporate culture, you won’t be happy for very long. Therefore, you must be able to communicate your work style to potential employers, so you can both determine whether you and the company are a match.
How to Define Your Work Style
Before you can successfully communicate your work style to a hiring manager, you must be able to define what your work style is. If you’re not quite sure how to describe your personal approach to work, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you prefer to work collaboratively or independently?
- What sort of management style do you prefer from your boss?
- What hours do you prefer to work?
- How do you plan out your workday?
- What is the most important factor for your success on the job?
- Think about the last time you received constructive feedback. How did you take it?
Determining a Match
It can be tempting to try to fudge your way through answers about your work style by telling the hiring manager what they want to hear. However, it is important to be honest whenever you’re thinking about or speaking about your work style, so you can accurately assess whether an opportunity is right for you.
First and foremost, conduct research on the company culture before every interview. You can find clues about the culture on the company website, their social media profiles, LinkedIn and review sites like Glassdoor and Indeed. During the interview, you should then ask questions that can help you decide if the company is right for you. Ask questions like:
- What types of people succeed here?
- What types of people don’t succeed here?
- What is the management style of this position’s direct supervisor?
- What do you like most about working here?
- What do you like least about working here?
- How is success measured?
- How is success rewarded?
The answer to these questions will let you know if the company is a place where you will be likely to do your best work. Remember that interviews are a chance for you to make determinations about the company, just as the hiring manager is making determinations about you.
Looking for The Best Employer Fit?
If you are a talented sales and marketing project manager looking for exciting projects with great ag companies, the recruiters at Magnify Resources can help. We will work closely with you to match you with opportunities that align with your work style and preferences. Learn about our career opportunities or contact us today to learn more.