A number of candidates joining companies resign within the first few months because of a poor cultural fit. Many companies and recruitment companies overlook this element of the interview process and as a result, do not do a good job of hiring candidates based on any real assessment of their cultural fit.
If you don’t ask cultural fit interview questions, you are missing a critical opportunity to determine whether the prospective employee will work successfully in your company.
Every organisation wants to hire a candidate who, in addition to the required job skills and qualifications, exhibits the best fit within the organisation’s culture. The most successful hires fit both the job and your workplace culture.
Interview questions to assess cultural fit
These are sample interview questions that will help you assess whether your prospective employee is a good match with your workplace culture and environment for employees.
- Describe the work environment or culture in which you are most productive and happy.
- What are the characteristics exhibited by the best boss you have ever had, or wished that you had?
- Describe what you believe are the most effective roles that a good manager plays in their relationship with reporting staff members.
- In your experience, how does an organisation encourage your use of your discretionary energy and effort, that willingness each employee has to go the extra mile, push harder, spend more time and do whatever is necessary to get the job done?
- Describe the management style that will bring forth your best work and efforts.
- Describe what you believe are the most effective roles that a good manager plays in their relationship with reporting staff members.
- Do you have a best friend at work? How do you feel about becoming friends with your co-workers? Is this a wise practice?
- What are the positive aspects of your current job and work environment, or the last position you held, before coming to this interview?
- What is the single most important factor that must be present in your work environment for you to be successfully and happily employed?
- Now that you have answered that question, what were two others that you debated about before giving the response that you chose?
- What is your preferred work style? Do you prefer working alone or as part of a team?
- What percentage of your time would you allocate to each, given the choice?
Use these interview questions about cultural fit as a starting point to further develop your own questions. The prospective candidate’s answers will help you determine whether the candidate will work successfully within your organisation.