Making Sure a Candidate is a Good Cultural Fit - Spark Hire

Making Sure a Candidate is a Good Cultural Fit - Spark HireIts no longer enough to ensure that the candidate youre thinking of hiring has the right skills to get the job done. Cultural fit is becoming an increasingly important part of hiring, particularly when you want to lower turnover rates in your business. A person can be highly skilled at their job, but if they simply dont blend in well at work, its likely that they wont last long in their position. For a hiring manager looking to assess for cultural fit during an interview, here are some points to considerAsk the right questionsWhile you want to get a sense of the training and past experiences that have prepped this person for the job, dont forget to focus on the work itself. Do they find it meaningful? Why does it appeal to them? What are their at-work values, and are they in sync with your companys? These answers clue you in as to whether someone will mix well with the rest of your team.Find out how that person feels they wor k most effectivelyCome out and be direct when you want to find out about cultural fit. Its something candidates are spending an increasing amount of time thinking about, so addressing it in an interview is smart. Ask what font of office environment would be ideal for that candidate. Do they want to work in groups or do they prefer to work solo? Do they like to have set tasks to complete each day or do they like their days to be varied? Depending on their answers, youll understand how they might enjoy the open position.Define your companys values firstBefore you can hire based on cultural fit, its important to stop and take a few minutes to figure out what defines your company. What are the businesss values? What kinds of people work there? What are the brands short and long-term goals? When you have a better sense of understanding about these things, youre able to hire more intelligently. Its easy to get caught up in filling an open role as quickly as possible, but learning about yo ur company culture on a deep level is necessary for smart hiring.Remembering to incorporate cultural fit into the hiring process is important when you want to ensure that your new addition to the team is a strong choice in the long run. Additionally, because cultural fit is an issue that matters to candidates too, its a discussion theyll appreciate having with you.Image monkeybusinessimages/BigStock.com