Async work is claimed far more often than it is practised, and the difference shows up in your calendar rather than in the job ad.
Ask about the calendar, not the culture
"Are you async?" gets a yes from everyone. "How many hours of scheduled meetings did you have last week?" gets a number. Under five hours is genuinely async. Fifteen is a synchronous company that writes documents.
Look for the artefacts
Real async teams have a written decision log, recorded meetings with notes, and a handbook. Ask where a new joiner finds out why a decision was made six months ago. If the answer is "ask someone", it is not async.
Why it matters more than the label
Async determines whether you can live in your own timezone, take a school run, or work deeply for three hours. It is the mechanism behind most of what people actually want from remote work.
Common questions
What counts as an async-first company?
One where decisions are made in writing and meetings are the exception. Usually under five hours of scheduled calls a week.
Is async work better?
It suits deep work and spread-out timezones. It is harder for people who prefer fast verbal problem-solving.