A Student Asked; How important is it to pick not the right job, but the right office environment.  What are some clues to look for that might let you know if the environment is hostile to Christianity?

Here are some thoughts on this topic.

1) Some students based on their degrees and the job market may not have multiple offers to choose from.  So my best advice is to get started in a job that seems like at least a 75% fit for what you were looking for.

2) Realize that in your first job you may not have a lot of control over the type of boss you work for and sometimes it is difficult to tell what the environment might be like.  But here are some clues to look for or questions to ask.  I would save theses questions for later in the interview session than to be asking these as your first questions.  First questions should deal with the nature of the work and your ability to do it exceptionally well.  Later ask.

a. One of the things I am interested in is getting involved in the community, how important is that in this company?  Do many employees get involved in volunteering?  What kind of things do they volunteer for?  (listen closely to some of the answers of organizations that they volunteer with).

b. I want to work hard and excel at this firm, but also know balance is important, Do employees feel like they can make time for family involvement or for church or religious involvement?  Is this company supportive of these things?

I would refrain in the interviewing process about talking a lot about your Christian beliefs or wanting to do Bible Studies, unless the person you are talking with seems to have this interest or brings it up.  These questions above help get a framework for where a company stands on community involvement and the importance of balance in your life.  There answers should give you discernment as to how they might view your outside Christian activities and involvement and also will help you discern the corporate culture or environment.

Remember too, that Christ calls us to all environments, friendly and challenging.  He has a plan for us if we find ourselves in an environment that might be more challenging that we thought in the interviewing process