Top reasons workplace culture matters to job satisfaction

Match your values and work style with those of a company

What’s the biggest predictor of job happiness? Hint: It’s not about how large your paycheck is (though a healthy salary never hurt anyone!). What job satisfaction really boils down to is whether or not you fit in with the company culture.

What exactly is cultural fit? It more or less refers to whether or not your values and work style match up with those of a company. If you value work-life balance, having fun, and an easygoing office environment, you’re probably not going to do well working the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. On the flip side, if you work best under pressure, are results-driven, and thrive in an atmosphere of hustle and bustle, massage therapy likely isn’t an appropriate career path.

A recent Monster poll found that 95% of American workers believe overall fit is important when it comes to their happiness at work. The bad news? An astounding 75% of the people surveyed said they’ve had a job where they didn’t feel they were a good fit and 51% have felt this way in two or more jobs.

When evaluating a company or job offer, it can be tempting to bump company culture to the back burner when you’re faced with the potential for a fat paycheck or killer benefits. But more and more, workers are looking for jobs where they feel a connection. Case in point: Online learning site Udemy surveyed 1,000 workers and found that 62% would accept a pay cut to work for a company with a mission that mirrored their values (that figure leaped to 78% for millennials polled).

Here are three reasons why workplace culture is so important for job seekers to consider when evaluating prospective employers — as well as some tips on how to assess company culture to find the right fit.

Employers often weigh cultural fit over skills

Cultural fit isn’t just important for you the job seeker — it matters to employers, too. In fact, nearly all (96%) of the HR leaders recently surveyed by Thrivemap said recruiting for cultural fit is crucial. That echoes a Randstad analysis of 200 workplace studies that found cultural fit is more important in predicting an employee’s commitment to their employer than any other factor, including skill, talent, or experience.

Moreover, a whopping 94% of executives recently surveyed by Deloitte said they believe a distinct culture is important for success. “Employers know that cultural fit has a tremendous impact on an employee’s stress level, optimism, and productivity,” says Chris Edmonds, author of The Culture Engine: A Framework for Driving Results, Inspiring Your Employees, and Transforming Your Workplace.

Another reason hiring managers prioritize cultural fit: “Smart employers are more concerned with fit than skill because they know they can train people to fill a role,” says Roberta Matuson, an HR consultant and author of Talent Magnetism: How to Build a Workplace That Attracts and Keeps the Best. As Matuson puts it: Employers can’t “make a square peg fit into a round hole.”

When you’re applying to a job, make sure your cover letter and resume give some insight into your values and work style, not just your skills and experience.

You’ll feel connected to something bigger than yourself

Whether you’re a diehard fan of a certain sports team, have a passion for arts education, or can recite every song lyric by your favorite band, there are real emotional and mental benefits that come with belonging to a community of likeminded people.

If a company’s culture is in tune with your own, going to work every day will feel more like you’re part of a team and contributing toward a common goal.

Cultural fit drives career success

Not only are you likely to feel better about going to work, you’re also more inclined to be better at what you do when the workplace culture is a good fit and you feel comfortable there.

“A good company culture makes you work harder,” says Edmonds. “It also fosters a sense of community that gives you a sense of cohesion and better collaboration, which enables you to hone your skills.”

Obviously, you still have to put effort into your job in order to be successful. “An unprofessional, nonteam player with low drive won’t be a better employee because the culture is great,” says Lizz Pellet, author of The Cultural Fit Factor: Creating an Employment Brand That Attracts, Retains, and Repels the Right Employees.

How to gauge company culture

Now that you know why cultural fit is a key ingredient to job happiness, it’s something you’ll want to measure when assessing a potential employer.

Many companies have a mission statement on their website that spells out their culture. Read the