Questions to ask in interview to get a sense of office culture

[Anonymous]

I have TWO interviews this week! Both are Fed positions.

What are some good questions I can ask to get insight into office culture/ morale due to new administration, and actually get a meaningful answer?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I ask how late long they’ve been at the company/agency. Sometimes they’ll make an offhand comment about how they feel about their job.

[Anonymous]

I would just ask them straight up to describe the office culture. I'm also a fed, and in my office we know we have a unique culture and we're happy to talk about it.

[Anonymous]

Ask "what do you enjoy about working in this office?" If you get an answer other than insight into the culture, then that is flag, that no one wants to talk about it. If the culture is great, people are effusive, and waxing on about birthdays, and happy hours. If it is not, you'll get an answer like "I enjoy the mission, and serving the people." I.e. some kind of safe, generic answer means the culture is toxic...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask "what do you enjoy about working in this office?" If you get an answer other than insight into the culture, then that is flag, that no one wants to talk about it. If the culture is great, people are effusive, and waxing on about birthdays, and happy hours. If it is not, you'll get an answer like "I enjoy the mission, and serving the people." I.e. some kind of safe, generic answer means the culture is toxic...

This is great advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask "what do you enjoy about working in this office?" If you get an answer other than insight into the culture, then that is flag, that no one wants to talk about it. If the culture is great, people are effusive, and waxing on about birthdays, and happy hours. If it is not, you'll get an answer like "I enjoy the mission, and serving the people." I.e. some kind of safe, generic answer means the culture is toxic...

This is great advice.

Maybe something like, if you could change one thing about the culture to make more effective what would it be?

[Anonymous]

Ask why the person whose job you are applying for is leaving.

If the answer isn't either retirement or internal promotion, then that's a red flag. Fed jobs are coveted. If someone is leaving before retirement and not just moving internally, then you have your answer.

The above stuff doesn't work because no one conducting an interview is going to let on that there are issues. And the one PP is wrong: some people do like their jobs because of the mission, and it doesn't mean it's a bad environment.

I don't think happy hours and birthdays means it's a good culture. One of the worst places I worked in my younger days was a place where everyone went to happy hour to vent.

[Anonymous]

^^^ by "above stuff," I meant the stuff mentioned by other PPs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think happy hours and birthdays means it's a good culture. One of the worst places I worked in my younger days was a place where everyone went to happy hour to vent.

+1 Many people in their prime working years are also parents and don't go to happy hours. And birthdays... meh. Best gift is my birthday off, and you can keep your disgusting cakes from Safeway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask why the person whose job you are applying for is leaving.

If the answer isn't either retirement or internal promotion, then that's a red flag. Fed jobs are coveted. If someone is leaving before retirement and not just moving internally, then you have your answer.

The above stuff doesn't work because no one conducting an interview is going to let on that there are issues. And the one PP is wrong: some people do like their jobs because of the mission, and it doesn't mean it's a bad environment.

I don't think happy hours and birthdays means it's a good culture. One of the worst places I worked in my younger days was a place where everyone went to happy hour to vent.

I would not read into why they left. I left a fed job that had a great culture because it was time to move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask "what do you enjoy about working in this office?" If you get an answer other than insight into the culture, then that is flag, that no one wants to talk about it. If the culture is great, people are effusive, and waxing on about birthdays, and happy hours. If it is not, you'll get an answer like "I enjoy the mission, and serving the people." I.e. some kind of safe, generic answer means the culture is toxic...

If I were asked about my federal office, I would give the second response. This is good advice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, do you think it's ok to ask, "has your worked changed with the new administration, and, if so, how?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, do you think it's ok to ask, "has your worked changed with the new administration, and, if so, how?"

I think it is perfectly okay to ask about a change in leadership. It is a reasonable question in any administration. Just don’t make it specific to Trump.

[Anonymous]

OP, it's not really clear what you mean by "culture". I think you actually want to know something about whether the work has been politicized or somehow rendered less meaningful under the current Administration. It doesn't sound like you are asking about happy hours and birthday cakes.

I think it's fair to ask how political leadership impacts the day-to-day work in a Federal agency. If there are news stories specific to the agency and office you are applying to, you could also ask if they are something to be concerned about. FWIW, I'm a former Fed who used to work in an agency whose work is very directly impacted by the Administration. Currently, many of the people I used to work with (many of whom I know are not at all politically aligned with the President) say the are still happy with their jobs. The most recent shake up in the WH might change that for them...but until now they've gotten to continue doing what they joined the civil service to do. And their jobs are very demanding.

[Anonymous]

I always ask for a tour of the office. It's interesting to see offices and how people interact. Not everyone agrees, but many do. I don't think it hurts to ask.