{"id":48281,"date":"2017-09-07T05:00:29","date_gmt":"2017-09-07T12:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creativecircle.com\/?p=47580"},"modified":"2017-09-07T05:00:29","modified_gmt":"2017-09-07T12:00:29","slug":"navigating-company-culture-freelancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creativecircle.com\/blog\/navigating-company-culture-freelancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating Company Culture as a Freelancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re the type of person who craves variety and enjoys a dynamic atmosphere, being a freelancer seems like the perfect arrangement. Maybe you\u2019ll be on an assignment at an advertising agency for a week or two, then immediately go to a gig in a corporate or in-house situation. It\u2019s not for everyone, but that\u2019s what you love about being a full-time freelancer: You\u2019re never in the same situation twice. However, you\u2019re always the \u201cnew kid,\u201d and this can be a source of frustration. How do you figure out how to fit in to the company culture fast enough to create an environment conducive to doing your best work?<\/p>\n

What we mean when we talk about company culture<\/h2>\n

Company culture is more than a set of rules in a handbook: It\u2019s an outlook or a philosophy about the work, the employees, the lifestyle, and even the physical environment that usually trickles down from the top. In short, a company\u2019s culture might be thought of as its personality.<\/p>\n

For example, a company might be seen as relaxed and friendly if executives have open-door policies, they emphasize work\/life balance, and employees of all levels are shown appreciation for their unique contributions and talents.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, some companies have an unspoken rule that you have to be there before the boss gets in and you shouldn\u2019t leave until after they are gone. You absolutely have to stick to the established way of doing things, and employees may even be required to keep their workspaces in a certain order.<\/p>\n

And company culture isn\u2019t always what you expect it to be. I worked in a ginormous, Fortune 50 company that was the very definition of corporate, but their in-house advertising department emphasized collaboration, flexible schedules, and jeans and flip-flops whenever. Conversely, plenty of advertising and design firms may have the foosball table and beer keg, but they\u2019re still exceptionally rigid with policies and conduct. A company\u2019s culture can significantly impact the overall satisfaction, efficiency, and effectiveness of its employees, so you\u2019ve got to figure out the lay of the land pretty quickly.<\/p>\n

First things first: Learn what you need to do your job effectively<\/h2>\n

As a freelancer, you\u2019re expected to hit the ground running and work seamlessly with the team. Unfortunately, the regular employees are often in such a hurry that they aren\u2019t always able to give you a proper download. As soon as your assignment starts (if not before), learn what you need to be efficient and effective in your job:<\/p>\n