Tech Tips

3 Questions to Assess Candidate Fit with Company Culture

When acting as the professional recruiter for an organization, one of the most challenging steps in the recruitment process can be determining what attributes the candidate must possess to fit with the employer’s company culture.

The employer knows they need help and that they need someone to complete work, but they are often unsure exactly what types of people work well with their team and culture. It can be difficult for employers to see beyond the day-to-day tasks of the job to assess cultural fit.

Here are three questions HR Consultant Dawn Hilrud asks employers to determine the types of individuals that thrive and fit within their particular company cultures.

Interestingly, almost every time I ask this question of an employer, their response is related to personal attributes rather than technical skills. Typical responses include the following:

• The best people are self-starters — an indication of an independent organization free of micromanagement
• The best people have the ability to mentor and teach — an indication of a learning culture
• The best people are strong communicators — a signal of an open and transparent workplace

Dependent on answers, I can further nail down the company culture as well as those who are successful within it.

The characteristics and behaviours of the leadership team will cascade down throughout the organization and inevitably will mould company culture. Certain people can be more successful than others under the leadership that is moulding the company culture.

Once I know the desirable leadership characteristics within the company, I can gain an understanding of the types of candidates that will be successful in working under those leaders. Typical responses include the following:

• Inspiring, decision makers and visionaries indicate a culture of empowerment and one that self-starters will thrive in
• Creative and futuristic indicate a culture of innovation and one that those who are imaginative and accepting of change will be successful in
• Providers of feedback, resilient and positive indicate a coaching culture, one that people who are eager to grow and develop will thrive in

Different people thrive in different work environments. In understanding what is considered positive, and therefore desirable in the work environment, I can see what candidates also need to consider favourable in their workplace. In short, job candidates must agree that these workplace aspects are positive.

• A work environment that is considered positive because it fosters friendships is valuable to candidates who doesn’t necessarily want to remain strictly professional at work
• A workplace that considers “fun on the job” important and positive is valuable to candidates who prefer a less formal workplace
• A company that considers the coaching abilities of its leaders a perk will allow those candidates who are accepting of feedback to thrive

Assessing candidate fit within company culture can be a bit tricky, but it certainly worth your time!

Want to learn more? Watch our Brain Bites episode below on assessing culture fit and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more! Get in touch with Dawn Hilrud.

— March 18, 2021

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