Interviewing for Cultural Fit

Even if a candidate has all of the right skills, that doesn’t guarantee they’re the best person for the job. Selecting an individual who doesn’t fit into the company’s culture could lead to issues, leading you to seek a replacement sooner than you originally planned.

To help ensure you don’t make a costly mistake in hiring, it is important to ask questions that assist in determining whether the candidate is suited to your workplace culture. Here are a few that can help you successfully interview for cultural fit.

Describe the work environment in which you are most productive.

The intention of this prompt is to have the candidate explain what sort of culture suits their needs and makes them happy. By having them describe their preferred workplace, you gain insights into their priorities and can potentially determine if your company is a match.

What characteristics or management style would your ideal boss have?

This question helps you assess whether the person overseeing their work fits their needs. Not every person flourishes under specific managers, as stylistic differences can cause conflict. By getting an overview of the ideal boss, you can determine whether the candidate will work well with the manager on a fundamental level.

Do you typically end up friends with your co-workers? Do you think your approach is wise?

Some candidates are more social than others, leading them to forge personal relationships with those they work with. Others intentionally avoid becoming close with their colleagues to help keep things entirely professional. While neither approach is inherently right or wrong, it is helpful to know the tendencies of the job seekers, as this allows you to assess how they may fit in with those working around them.

What is your preferred work style?

This question helps you determine whether the candidate thrives as part of a team or if they feel more confident going solo. Like the previous question, there is no right or wrong answer, but it does allow you to see if their preference matches the expectations of the position.

When working as part of a team, what role do you generally play?

Teams often feature a range of personalities. Not everyone is going to try to lead, though some may abhor being a follower. Having the candidate describe the role they see themselves filling can give you an indication whether they will mesh with the other members of the work group based on the personalities already present.

Out of the following five things, which is most important to you when selecting a new position: money, stability, challenge, environment or recognition?

This question helps identify a key motivator in regards to what the candidate is hoping to find in their next employer and lets you assess whether it is something your company culture supports. None of the choices are wrong, and it is important to take their response in the context of their experiences. For example, a person whose last employer went bankrupt may crave stability because of that experience. However, it provides insight regarding their motivations and whether your workplace can meet their needs.

As the candidate answers these questions, you should gain valuable information that will help determine if they are right for your current company culture, helping you select the right candidate the first time. If you are looking to hire new employees, the professionals at The Squires Group can help you find top-quality applicants based on your needs. Contact us to discuss your current or upcoming vacancies today.


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