Sep 12, 2023

Employees from four Chicago tech companies share how they knew they’d found the job they love. September 6, 2023Updated: September 6, 2023 Studies consistently show that workers’ job satisfaction has a lot more to do with company values and culture than salary and benefits. A recent Glassdoor survey found that this held true across various industries and countries: finding a good job fit means finding a company whose values align with your own. But that’s a tricky thing to figure out. Compensation and benefits are laid out in clear charts and spreadsheets when the job offer comes through — assessing the culture of a whole organization takes a bit more work. Built In sat down with employees from four Chicago tech companies to learn how they knew they’d found the right fit. They told us stories of meeting the CEO during an initial interview, managers who invested significant time onboarding them through daily one-on-one meetings and colleagues who welcomed their contributions to finicky logistics challenges as early as the interview process. Samantha Lawson, product manager at Applied Systems , learned to know her colleagues well during the interview process, discovering early on that “they were missionaries in a world full of mercenaries.” It turns out, paying attention to values and culture during the interview and onboarding processes proves highly valuable. At what point in the interview/hiring process did you realize that Applied Systems was the company for you? I started with Applied Systems in October 2022 and the defining moment for me was during my final interview with two product managers from the product team at EZLynx, a division of Applied Systems. During the interview, our discussion delved into the challenges and opportunities their team was facing, and I was struck by the genuine enthusiasm they had for their work as well as the support they offered one another. It was clear that they were innovative and not afraid to take risks. They were passionate about their products, but most importantly they were passionate about solving problems for their customers. They were missionaries in a world full of mercenaries. Coming from the startup world, I enjoyed the thrill of working hard, working fast, taking risks and learning from mistakes but not letting them slow me down. It was during this final interview that I realized working with the EZLynx product team at Applied Systems would allow me to get the thrill of working for a startup but in the context of a stable, thriving company. How did your colleagues set you up for success and help you get acclimated once you came aboard? When I joined the EZLynx team, I was fortunate to have incredible colleagues who were willing to go above and beyond to ensure that I was set up for success and felt like an integral part of the team. One of the most impactful experiences was the three weeks of daily, hour-long one-on-one sessions I had with the subject matter expert (SME). The SME showed me the ins and outs of the entire EZLynx product. I was prepared to do all of my learning by watching videos and shadowing since that was all I had experienced with previous employers. The one-on-one training was a new experience for me, and I am very grateful for it. It played a huge role in my quick success at EZLynx. I took ownership of my own product within my first month and I was able to make quick decisions on my own because of the knowledge I had of how the entire system worked. Since joining your company, what's your favorite success story? My favorite success story is taking my first project from start to finish, a complete redesign of EZLynx's Sales Center. This was an exciting project for all involved as it is the first step in our customer relationship management initiative. I tested the limits of the engineering and design team, we took risks to provide a sales pipeline tool that would address the unique needs of each of our users and we worked hard to complete this project in two quarters. At what point in the interview/hiring process did you realize that SMS Assist was the company for you? During the interview process, there were several moments that made me realize SMS Assist was the perfect fit for me. From the initial conversation with the hiring manager, their genuine enthusiasm for their work and the company's vision resonated with me. SMS Assist and Lessen went through a merger earlier this year, and the combined companies have a lot of opportunities to garner new business because of their new, unique offering. The direction of the merged companies is exciting. During the merger process, I had the opportunity to meet some of my potential colleagues and their passion and expertise further solidified my interest. Additionally, when I learned more about the company's culture, values and commitment to professional growth, I knew I had found a place where I could thrive. It was a combination of these factors that made me confident in my decision to join this amazing organization. How did your colleagues set you up for success and help you get acclimated once you came aboard? SMS Assist instantly provided me with the tools I needed to be successful. After completing the new-hire onboarding training, I had a grasp on my team’s everyday processes, the larger business initiatives and how my individual responsibilities would play a role in the organization’s success. My colleagues took the time to introduce themselves, share their knowledge and experiences, provide insights into the team dynamics and offer their support whenever I needed it. They went above and beyond to provide me with the necessary resources and guidance to navigate the company's systems, processes and tools. My colleagues actively included me in team meetings and responsibilities, allowing me to contribute and collaborate effectively. They encouraged open communication and fostered a supportive environment where I felt comfortable asking for help or seeking feedback. Their willingness to share their expertise and offer guidance proved invaluable in my professional growth and integration into the company. I am truly grateful for their support and camaraderie, as they played a significant role in helping me succeed and feel at home in my new workplace. Looking ahead, what do you hope to accomplish with your team? I am excited about the possibilities and potential for what SMS Assist, my team and I can achieve together. There are several goals I hope to accomplish in collaboration with my team. First and foremost, I aspire to drive innovation within our projects and processes. By encouraging creativity and embracing new ideas, we can continuously improve our work and stay ahead of the curve. I believe that by fostering a culture of innovation we can find fresh solutions to challenges, explore new opportunities and make a meaningful impact in our industry. Ultimately, my goal is to work together with my team to achieve outstanding results, exceed customer and leadership expectations and create a fulfilling and rewarding experience for every team member. We all win together; we can accomplish great things and make a lasting impact in our work. That is what I believe it means to drive meaningful change.