For the Team Player, working with a smart, fun group is the best part of the job. You recognize that you have certain skills and you want to team up with others who have different skills to solve problems. Team Players
- are looking for a cooperative, not competitive, environment where everyone is pitching in
- take pride in their work
- don't need as much individual recognition as long as everyone on the team is pulling their weight
- feel that work should be an enjoyable, social activity, not something you do alone in your cubicle all day
- value some stability and structure, but a good team can rise to any challenge
Since the social aspect is important to you, make sure you inquire about it during your interviews. Is the work project-based? Does the work involve people with a variety of skills coming together to solve problems? Do people socialize after work? Many small companies will have enjoyable, team-based cultures, but not all. Especially in technology companies, much of the work might be done by individuals in relative isolation, rather than coming together as teams. You won't be happy in an environment like that.
You'll probably be attracted to companies that have a Task Culture, but Role Cultures might also work if the projects are interesting and the people are fun.
