More Than a Welcome Mat

By: Katherine Davis, BGS Communications Associate

Many employers believe that employees who feel they are welcome within an environment will be more likely to help a company grow. As job candidates interview with, research and learn more about a potential workplace, they can also pick up on such work culture clues.

Finished with her bachelor's degree in business administration, Amy Skupien (BGS 2010, Saint Louis University) was completing her masters in accounting and working as an intern for FedEx SmartPost. After applying to a number of accounting positions and interviewing with a few companies over the past year, she finally accepted a rotational finance development position with Hospira that begins in June.

Skupien admits that one of the key factors throughout her job-seeking process was whether the company made her feel welcome.

"I remember interviewing with the Kohler company after my junior year of college," Skupien explained. "We ate lunch with many of the new hires and current employees and were shown every part of the campus. I think this was an assessment of sorts—they were probably trying to see if we fit in with their culture. But it also made us feel more welcome and relaxed."

She mentions that while Hospira had a bit more traditional approach to interviewing, the people there still placed importance on hospitality and sharing information about the company.

"Hospira had a day-long interview with multiple candidates where we were introduced to workers, fed in the cafeteria and shown the showroom," Skupien said. "Involving more people is a neat thing—I think it breaks up the tension. Even just interacting with the other applicants is helpful because you might potentially be working with them one day."

Although Skupien acknowledges it might be harder for a smaller company or organization to give such a grandiose tour or conduct multi-person interviews, she thinks that showing someone respect and making that individual feel welcome doesn't require too much effort.

"Even for someone with a tray of cookies to welcome you, or for someone to sacrifice [his or her] time by a half hour just to give you some news on the company, creates something that's social and welcoming. I think something's missed when you just say 'hi,' go through the interview and then they're kicking you out of the door."