I have a clear principle for me: I select the company I work for according to the company culture and people! That’s the most important selection criteria for me.
For years I have a short-list of companies I like and where I have an impression about the company culture and people. Sometimes I get the impression from listening to other employees, interviews, application interviews I had… doing research and looking at employer ratings.
Why I choose the culture over job title, salary or even the position? I believe in one thing: You only can become happy and successful if you have the right environment. If the environment is does not fit to you, you will not be able to perform and will be frustrated quickly.
Of course my personality, the company environment and requirements change over time. With every new experience I know what I like and what I don’t like and what I need to be successful and happy. Today as a lead I impact the company’s culture too and I am aware of that.
In the last 20 years in my career the focus on company culture and people helped me a lot and I am very sure that it will help me in future to stay successful and happy. I listened to so many frustrated people who tolerated bad company culture and bad people behavior only because of their own career, salary or job title… after a while they realized how much energy they wasted for nothing! That’s what I never want to experience in my own career in future.