Key Takeaways
- Don’t rely on generic answers. Asking “What’s your company culture like?” often leads to vague responses. Instead, look for clues in how people describe their actual work experiences.
- Ask for real stories. Questions that invite experiences like “Can you tell me a story about something that happens here but wouldn’t elsewhere?” reveal what it’s truly like to work at a company.
- Vet culture as thoroughly as the role itself. Take time to understand the people, values, and environment you’ll be joining because long-term success depends as much on culture as it does on the work you do.
Everyone has a culture, whether it’s a fast-paced startup or an established R&D firm, but understanding what that culture really looks like day to day is essential for engineering job seekers. The average adult in the U.S. spends about one-third of their life, roughly 90,000 hours, at work, so finding a place where you feel fulfilled truly matters.
Beyond competitive salaries and job titles, culture determines how supported, valued, and motivated you’ll feel in your role. So how do you really learn about a company’s culture before you accept the offer?
What You Should NOT Ask:
If you’ve ever asked in an interview, “What’s your company culture like?” you’ve probably heard a generic answer like:
- “Our engineering team is really collaborative.”
- “We’re like a family here.”
- “We emphasize open communication and teamwork.”
While these responses sound positive, they’re often too generic to give you real insight into what it’s actually like to work there, especially in technical roles where team dynamics, autonomy, and work-life balance vary dramatically.
A BETTER Way to Ask:
Wharton psychologist and Glassdoor’s Chief Worklife Expert, Adam Grant, offers a better strategy:
“Don’t just ask people to describe the culture, because you tend to get a lot of platitudes and clichés. Instead, ask ‘Can you tell me a story about something that happens here but wouldn’t happen elsewhere?’”
This storytelling-based question reveals far more than surface-level answers. It helps you understand the company’s everyday dynamics, values, and how employees interact, insights that too many job seekers overlook. Evaluating culture is just as important as evaluating the role itself:
“You want to spend as much time vetting the culture of the place as you do the nature of the work. Our opportunities are shaped as much by the people and values around us as they are by what we’re doing day to day.”
Other questions that reveal the real story:
- “What are some common traits among your highest-performing engineers?”
- “What would the first 30 to 90 days look like for someone in this role?”
- “Can you walk me through how your team handled a recent technical challenge or production incident?”
- “What does career growth look like for engineers here?”
These questions help reveal whether the company supports continuous learning, values mentorship, and provides genuine opportunities for advancement, all factors that determine long-term job satisfaction.
Why Culture Fit Matters
A great engineering role isn’t just about the right responsibilities or working with the right technologies; it’s about working in the right environment. As Grant points out, roles evolve over time:
“You might end up in a role that’s a great fit today but not tomorrow. Your best chance at success is joining a culture where people are invested in your growth, success, and well-being.”
By encouraging interviewers and employees to share real stories, you’ll start to see patterns:
- Do engineers have dedicated time for learning and experimentation?
- Do team members celebrate each other’s wins?
- Are there regular incentives or team-building traditions?
- Or does competition overshadow collaboration?
Those are experiences you likely won’t hear about when simply asking what the company culture is like.
Many engineers want to work for companies that share their values and where they feel engaged and respected. So when exploring new opportunities, don’t settle for scripted answers about “collaboration”, “innovation”, and “teamwork.” Always ask for stories. They’ll show you whether the company provides the support, fairness, and culture where your engineering career can truly flourish.
Ready to find an engineering role that fits both your skills and your values? Connect with a SoloPoint Technical Recruiter today to explore opportunities with companies that align with what matters most to you: