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How To Determine If A Company Will Be A Good Culture Fit

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In a candidate-driven job market, it can seem like the world is your oyster when it comes to making a career move. But that doesn’t mean you want to take just any job! You want to find one that is a fit for your skills and experience; you want a job that will allow for continued growth. Something else you want to be on the lookout for? A company and team that will be a good culture fit. Use these three tactics to discover your next step!

Do Your Research

Before you interview, or even before you apply, research the company. Of course, you’ll want to check out their website, but also be sure to browse their various social media accounts. This may give you a peek into what the office is like if they frequently do events outside of work, and a more in-depth demonstration of their mission and values. Last, but certainly not least, LinkedIn is your best friend. Find the company on LinkedIn, click on “see all employees on LinkedIn.” Peruse employee profiles to get an idea of the company culture. A few specific things to look for: how long employees have been at the company, how they describe their job, and if they have recommendations and endorsements from coworkers.

Ask Great Questions

Once you get to the end of your interview and the Hiring Manager asks, “do you have any questions for us?” This is your chance! Use this opportunity to ask a couple of great questions that will give you further insight into the company culture. Here are a few of our favorites:

“What is your favorite thing about working for ABC Company?”

“How will this position interact with other team members and departments?”

“How does ABC Company tie their values into their day-to-day operations?”

Pay Attention To The Little Things

The smallest details can give you a hint as to the culture fit of a company! When you go in for an in-person interview, be aware of your surroundings. What is the general attitude or vibe of the office? Do the current employees seem friendly and welcoming? If you have the opportunity to meet with other team members, be sure to ask the same questions you would ask leadership and more! Don’t be afraid to ask questions about working with the leadership team. This can give you a better understanding of how to be successful if you are to be hired.

4 Simple Steps to Hiring for Culture Fit

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Hiring for Culture Fit

4 Simple Stpes to Hire for Culture Fit

As a company, we have been putting more and more emphasis on hiring for culture fit both internally and for our clients. “Culture fit” is more than just a buzzword, it is rapidly becoming a standard in business around the world. But… what exactly is it and how the heck do you hire for it? At its core, cultural fit means that employees’ beliefs and behaviors are in alignment with their employer’s core values and company culture. (Business News Daily) And as important as it is for us to define culture fit, it’s just as important to define what culture fit is NOT.

It is not a way to hire all of your best friends, it is not a strategy to hire people who are all the same. You still need to hire a diverse team that brings different experiences, different points of view, and even different goals. So how do you sort through the thousands of candidates on the market to find the one or two people who are not only going to be a great fit but also make an immediate impact on the growth of your team?

1. Have a strong and clearly defined culture

This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but please take a moment to step outside your shoes and look at your company through the eyes of a candidate. Is your company culture obvious right off the bat? Does what you read online align with what you’ll see in the office and hear when you talk to current employees? If the answers to these questions aren’t clear, it’s time to make some adjustments. Simply, make your brand known. Or, more complicated, define your culture and get everyone on board.

2. Don’t be so strict when reviewing resumes

So often, we put candidates in rigid boxes because they do or don’t check off every box on our desired skills list. This is resulting in so much missed value! Just because someone doesn’t have every skill doesn’t mean they can’t come into your open job and make a huge impact. Remember, skills can be taught but culture fit cannot. If you’re intrigued by someone’s background, or they fit some criteria but not all, put them in the “yes” pile. You will be amazed at how much you learn and gain just by talking to these candidates.

3. Think outside the box during the interview process

We’ve all seen the standard list of questions that everyone asks during an interview. “What are your weaknesses?” “Tell us about yourself…” By changing the way you ask questions, you change the type of talent you bring on board. I love this list of culture-fit specific questions from Harvard Business Review. And don’t stop at just changing the questions you ask! Maybe ask the candidate to sit in on a meeting and give their thoughts on a current project. Or give them a homework assignment very similar to what they would be doing day to day. You could even take them out to a team lunch to see how they interact with everyone. By taking candidates out of the “typical” interview process, you will be able to uncover outstanding talent.

4. Give the power to the candidate

Something that I love to say when I’m interviewing someone is “this interview is a two-way street.” I like to put the power in the candidate’s hands by asking them to tell me what they are looking for in a job or career. Trust your candidates. Make them feel like they can open up to you. By doing this you’ll be able to get to know their true selves. This alone will determine if they will truly be a culture fit on your team.