Tired of dealing with toxic work environments, and wondering how you could have been so blind?
Your relationship with your workplace is similar to one with your partner. And a relationship gone awry, because they don’t care for your needs, is not fun at all. Find one that truly empowers you. In an era where women empowerment is all the rage, most organizations are also ensuring that their workplaces are in tune with the various offerings that are required to provide an agentive ambience, that is inclusive, and diversity accepting.
However, while employers can easily claim to support you in various ways, some workplaces are more transparent than others in terms of how they support women employees. So, let us help you figure out what to look for so that you can easily spot the companies that actually do support women and women related issues.
Research on great places for women to work
Do a general analysis of places that claim to have a great work environment for women. Find out why it is so great, what are their offerings, for instance? Once you have figured out the many reasons a company is listed as one of the best workplaces for women, it will be easy for you to assess your expectations and what you would value in a workplace.
All of us are, after all, unique beings, and each of us has different expectations and values, with varying ways of measuring success. Thus, depending on what you care for, whether it is a flexible work schedule, ample maternity leave, an opportunity for leadership and progression and/or equal pay for equal work, you will be able to pinpoint the company that suits your career goals.
Evaluate the company’s online presence
You can certainly tell a lot about the company based on how it presents itself digitally. Their online presence would reflect their core values, and can certainly showcase their work ethic.
Watch out for the language and imagery used on their social media sites, along with the kind of content that they emphasise on. Do they have an inclusive approach? Do they highlight achievements by their women employees too? Are they vocal about current diversity issues? etc.
Scan the firm’s top tier
How inclusive and representative are the members at the top tier of the organization? Do they have women CEOs or members within the executive levels?
Although numbers aren’t everything, and may not give you an accurate picture of the company’s ethics. You might be able to gauge progression opportunities to a certain extent. Thus, what you need to look out for are the efforts the company is making to increase their gender balance and the policies they’re currently creating to improve it.
Check what the current employees are saying
Try to find someone you know, or a friend of a friend who works at the company you plan to join, preferably a woman, and get first-hand information on all the advertised perks and policies.
It’s always good to get an insider’s perspective on the company and find out what her experience has been like. Always make sure to talk to someone that you can trust, and take whatever they say with an open mind.
Pay attention and ask the right questions during your interview
Interviews help you gain insight into the company culture. While you walk through the company to get to your interview hall, look around, observe what the dynamics are, is there a fair gender balance, is it a friendly, inclusive atmosphere, do people look content or mostly frustrated etc.
Further, at the interview itself, you will be able to observe the dynamics between interviewers of different genders. Are there constant interruptions, do they seem reluctant to share credit, do they use inclusive language and words, are some cues to look out for.
Make sure to ask open-ended questions yourself, so that you would receive detailed answers to issues you find important. Be as direct as possible, and ask them, for instance how their company culture and policies support women.
Trust your instinct, always
Always trust your own judgement. That uncomfortable feeling at the pit of your stomach, its not always nerves, it's your own gut telling you that something is off and that you are not comfortable. Pick up on these warning signs, and if you have the liberty to turn down the job, do.
However, this must be done only after clarifying your doubts and confirming that the company’s policies most certainly do not comply with your own, and definitely not on a whim.
It is a known fact that a company that is taking strides to improve its inclusivity and diversity policies is always better. But whatever you do decide at the end of the day, choose a company that best supports your own career goals and that therefore, fits you best.