In an interview, why should candidates be asked questions about their cultural fit?
What is the purpose of asking candidates cultural fit questions during an interview and mission? The way in which your employees work is influenced by it. Company cultures are not right or wrong. Nevertheless, hiring employees who are compatible with your own culture increases your chances of achieving your business goals and contributes to the development of an engaging work environment. The retention rate will also be improved as a result.
It’s not all roses, however. It is not necessary to hire people you like or be a cultural fit
Discrimination. It is important to hire people with the right cultural fit so that they are able to thrive in your organization. Consider your company’s values and long-term goals before you begin interviewing candidates. After evaluating candidates, determine whether they share your values. When interviewing potential hires, use your questions to identify toxic behaviors. During the hiring process, you can ask candidates the following questions about cultural fit:
Questions to ask during an interview to determine cultural fit
- Are you more comfortable working alone or in a team? Why?
- What type of work environment is most conducive to your productivity?
- How would you prefer to receive feedback from your manager: through formal performance reviews or daily/weekly meetings? Why?
- As you begin your first six months at the company, what do you hope to accomplish?
- In the first month of employment, what would motivate you to quit your job?
- When faced with a challenging project, how would you motivate your team?
- If you could pick one aspect of your current (or prior) job that you would like to retain, what would it be?
- Do you have any experience with unfair or inefficient company policies? Would you be able to describe the policy and why it was adopted? How did you respond to this situation or how would you respond if the situation were reversed?
- Right before the end of the day, your manager assigns you a large task. What is your response?
- If you believed there was a better approach, how would you change an institutional “this is the way we always do it” attitude?
During an interview, here are some tips for assessing cultural fit
- The culture of your company can be enhanced or disrupted by new hires. It is important to recruit candidates who are closely aligned with your organizational culture if you have established one. Consider hiring individuals who will contribute to its enhancement.
- Keep your goals in mind for the future. Prioritize candidates who will make a positive impact on your teams. Consider hiring employees who have strong leadership skills if you plan to scale your business.
- If you are hiring for a specific department, make sure your interview questions reflect the culture of the department. An engineering department, for example, will likely have different work habits and goals from a marketing department or a sales department.
- It is important to speak with employees who interacted with candidates before and after the interview (for example, the receptionist or the security guard.) A friendly and polite individual will always be more successful than one who is rude and arrogant. Do not, however, outright reject introverts who may not be comfortable with small talk.
- Don’t forget that candidates can also influence whether they are a good fit for your organization. Let them experience the job first-hand and decide whether or not they will fit in. You may wish to give them a quick tour of the office and introduce them to potential coworkers.
Flags of concern
- A dishonest act. It is acceptable to hire candidates who have conducted research and have provided you with answers that seem to align with the culture of your organization. If you suspect they are merely trying to impress, ask for specific examples and follow up with further questions.
- Values are not aligned. You will be able to hire an employee if you share similar values, work methods, and share common goals with him or her. If your organization favors innovation and flexibility in all procedures, a process-driven candidate might not be a good fit. An employee seeking rapid career advancement will also find it difficult to remain in a position where there is no opportunity for promotion.
- Leadership style differs from one another. Consider how each team operates when hiring for managerial positions. A candidate with an advanced degree, for example, an authoritative leadership style may not be the best managerial fit for a team where employees work best independently.
- Lack of flexibility. The new employee should balance the need to adapt to their work habits with the need to offer new ideas for improvement. A “know-it-all” attitude and signs of arrogance are red flags.
- Policies are disrespected. A company’s policies should not be disrespected or ignored simply because one questions the status quo. A candidate’s past work experience will reveal whether or not they follow company policies and suggest improvements where necessary.
