Office Worker? Did you ask to see your office or cubical before accepting a job?

[lonewanderer]

The one office type job I applied for, I did not ask to see where my office would be. However, after the interview they showed me where my office would be just in case. Personally, right now I would be happy to have a job, even in the boiler room, and without meeting the coworkers first.

[kodaka]

Who cares where you are stuck once hired?

Well considering that just one factor in your work environment--daylight or views--can improve a person's work performance by 50%, I would think most people would care.

And that's not including other factors like your proximity to necessary work tools and your coworkers, acoustics and speech privacy, a properly ergonomic workspace, control of air flow, humidity, and temperature, adequate and proper lighting, et cetera......

[student_101]

Originally Posted by Workaholic?

Back when I was a full time HR Manager, I was always shocked how many people accepted a job without ever meeting their coworkers or seeing their future work environment. They never asked if they would have their own office, or would share an office with others, or would have a cubical.

The interviews were all done in the conference room next to the receptionist so the potential new hires never saw the area where they would actually work.

This was during the economic boom when jobs were plentiful. It seemed strange to me that people did not seem curious where they would be working. Some people would accept a job without even visiting the building they would work in becuase the interviews were done at the corporate office. To me your working environment is the key to your success.

What do you think about this? Would you ask to see your actual work environment before accepting a new job? Would you rather share an 12 by 12 office with someone, or have a cubical?

When I found a job that had everything that I wanted, on the 3rd interview I asked to see the office that I would be in. That was the clincher for me, it was a good size with nice windows and felt homey. I wouldn't mind working in a cube but definetly like my unshared office. I met all of my co-workers, manager, HR rep and office manager in my 2nd interview so I already knew I like them. My office is very into making everyone a part of their working family which is a far cry from my last company. It was a nice change of pace and I wouldn't have accepted any job unless I knew I was comfortable in the environment.

[brocco]

I didn't ask but they showed it to me and introduced me to everyone during the second interview. I work in a very small office, though (people-wise).