There are many elements that make up a good work experience. That includes a competitive salary that makes you feel like a valued member of the team, a supervisor that helps you to reach your career goals, and an inclusive culture that celebrates different perspectives and viewpoints. But there’s another factor you don’t want to overlook that can have a large impact on your overall happiness both in and outside the office — feeling a sense of belonging at work. And while some of that may depend on the opportunities your office provides, it also rides on your willingness to step outside your comfort zone.
To learn more about why it’s so important to embrace your new community at work, and steps you can take to become an active member at your new company, we spoke to Jennifer Wadas, Campus Acquisition Associate at PURE Insurance. Read on for her advice from her own career journey, and as a recruiter for early career talent.
You will be spending a large chunk of your week at work — whether that’s in-person or online — and interacting with a whole new set of individuals daily. It’s therefore not surprising that many people make life-long friends at work, and form relationships with their teammates that extend beyond the workday. This is especially true if you relocated for a role, and are adjusting to not only a new work environment, but to an unfamiliar neighborhood as well.
“I remember when I was looking for a job right out of college, it was incredibly important for me to find a company where I could not only see myself working with people for 40 hours a week, but one that I also could see myself building strong, personal relationships outside of work too,” Jennifer said.
That’s because when you are excited to see your coworkers each day, it will inevitably affect how much you enjoy your time during the workday.
“I have come to realize that being surrounded by an inclusive, engaging community can have a direct impact on your overall happiness and productivity,” Jennifer shared.
Plus, Jennifer added that getting to know your co-workers will also help you build out your professional network — which is especially important as you start your career.
“You’re still figuring out where you’d like to go in your career, and a workplace that can help set the stage for fostering quality personal and professional relationships can help to open doors for new growth and learning opportunities,” Jennifer said. “You never know who you’re going to meet at an office happy hour or what you’re going to learn from someone at an emotional-intelligence workshop.”
Now that you understand the benefits of feeling a sense of community at work and forming relationships with your coworkers, you might be wondering when those connections will start to develop. And while some friendships might form naturally, it will take action on your part to truly join your workplace community — such as by attending company events.
For example, Jennifer suggested paying attention to internal newsletters or team and company-wide messages promoting events and gatherings after hours, both in-person and online.
“If your team is planning a happy hour or lunch event, go to it! If you see an opportunity to join the party-planning committee or an employee resource group, take the leap! If you’re a fully remote employee and not sure how to network or foster relationships, initiate a conversation with your manager!” Jennifer said. “Workplaces nowadays have plenty of opportunities for you and like-minded individuals to get together.”
If you are working in a hybrid role, Jennifer suggested making the effort to head into the office a few times a week, especially if there are events planned nearby after the workday. Companies with remote roles often have virtual events you can opt into, and groups you can join to increase your involvement even over the screen, such as employee resource groups (ERGs).
“Either way, it’s important to make an effort to introduce yourself to others and engage in conversation. And it’s OK to feel a little uncomfortable at first! Just like joining a club on-campus, it’s important to join an activity or subcommittee at work. If you don’t know what you can join, ask your manager,” Jennifer said.
Opportunities to meet leaders in your organization
As an early career professional, you can learn a lot from veteran workers who have climbed the ranks at your office — and by engaging with them you will begin to establish a name for yourself at work.
For example, at PURE Insurance, early-tenure employees can meet with leaders throughout the organization through “Development Dive-Ins,” which was an initiative created by PURE’s Womens Leadership Council, one of the their many employee resource groups. The goal of these Development Dive-Ins were to provide younger talent with the opportunity to have uninterrupted, one-on-one time with a senior leader from across the organization. Relationships formed in these Development Dive-Ins have led to special project assignments, promotions, and network building across the organization.
Opportunities to connect with others in the company
You can also take advantage of the opportunities your office may have to either formally or informally meet with employees from other departments. This is a great chance to connect with interesting coworkers who you may have never had the chance to talk to.
At PURE Insurance, employees can connect with colleagues outside their immediate departments through "Coworker Coffee" chats, – which gives employees the time to meet with one another in an informal environment – and through Mentorship Circles where individuals from different departments and tenure tracks serve as mentors to share their experiences and develop leadership skills, and mentees can receive help to identify and pursue their professional aspirations.
Many companies also offer the chance for employees to join ERGs to help foster a diverse, inclusive workplace. For example, PURE Insurance employees have access to employee‐led resource groups that help foster a diverse, inclusive workplace environment that is aligned with the organization’s mission, values and goals. Companies may also have chat forums dedicated to discussing topics of interest in a company-wide communication software, such as Microsoft Teams or Slack. For example, PURE Insurance employees have the opportunity to join a “Community Chat” to spark conversations with colleagues on topics ranging anywhere from travelling to environmental sustainability.
Opportunities to connect with your team
In addition to broadening your network, it’s also important to take the time to develop a sense of community within your immediate team.
At PURE Insurance, department and team leaders coordinate time for their team to get together on a recurring basis, either in a work-related or social setting. PURE Insurance also offers its employees Volunteer Time Off (VTO) where teams can take time away from work to volunteer for a cause or organization they care about as a group.
Some companies you may be looking into during your job search have more opportunities for teammates to connect and place a larger importance on providing a strong workplace community than others. But you’ll need to go a little deeper than asking, “tell me about your company’s culture” to truly determine whether you’ll be able to feel a sense of belonging at the organization.
Jennifer suggested that in addition to asking about the opportunities and events a company provides, you should ask your interviewer about a project they’ve worked on that they are particularly proud of.
“At first, interviewers would raise an eyebrow because they are not always expecting to have the interview turned onto them, [but] I found this question to be very insightful in the ways someone would respond. It told me a lot about the type of managers at the company, how responsibilities and projects are delegated among teams, and how employees are made to feel that their work is important and valued” she said. “With this question, you really had to read in-between the lines, but I felt it told me a lot more about a company.”
Another question Jennifer suggested asking is, “Can you provide an example of a way that you feel your current employer has fostered a sense of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness to its employees in the last 6 months?”
“This question requires interviewers to provide a specific, recent example about how the company has helped employees in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive way,” she said. “You might also consider asking a recruiter or a hiring manager during the interview process about ways they have gotten involved recently and what advice they have to get involved.”
Becoming a member of your workplace community takes effort, and that might include giving yourself a pep talk before stepping out of your comfort zone to speak to that company leader at an after-hours event, or initiating a coffee chat with an employee from another team that you are interested in learning more about. But you’ll be glad you did. Not only will forming relationships within your organization help you professionally, but it can also make the workday that much more enjoyable and fulfilling. Interested in the resources mentioned in this article? You learn more about opportunities at PURE Insurance here.