Top Interview Techniques to Find the Right Fit for Your Team
It's more complicated than simply looking for the best person to fill a position. Finding someone who shares the same values as your business and fits in well with your staff is also important. My experience as a Human Resources consultant has taught me that the best way to make your office more productive and happy is by finding the "right fit".
We'll talk about easy ways you can find the perfect candidate to fit into your team.
What is cultural fit?
A cultural fit is when a person’s work style, values, and attitude match those of your organization. As an example:
Does the employee enjoy the creative and fun environment at work?
Can your business handle this kind of set-up if it is professional and structured?
By ensuring that someone is compatible with your company culture, you can avoid issues such as poor teamwork and high turnover.
First, you need to know your company's culture
It's crucial to understand your culture before hiring anyone. You should ask yourself the following questions:
What is the company's mission statement?
Teamwork or individual work?
Does the workplace have a fast or a slow pace?
When I worked as a Human Resources consultant, the first thing that I did was to help companies better understand their culture before hiring someone.
Inquire about past experiences
Asking a candidate how they have handled situations in the past is one of the best methods to find out about them. It is called a behavior question. As an example:
Can you describe a situation where you collaborated with others on a task?
What did you do if you couldn't reach an agreement with a colleague on a certain issue?
The answers to these questions will show you how that person works together with others and solves problems. It's a method I have used many times while working for Recruiting and Staffing Services.
Step 3: Give Them Scenarios
A great way to test a candidate is by creating a fake situation. You can, for example:
What would you do if someone in your team kept missing deadlines?
How would you handle a situation if your supervisor was not available to assist?
You can see their thinking and how they make decisions. This method is used by many Human Resources Solutions to assess candidates' ability to solve problems.
They will be able to meet the team.
It's a good idea to let the candidates meet with their future co-workers. It's possible to do either a team or group interview. You can tell if they will get along well with other people by watching how they behave.
Group interviews are often the most effective way of finding people that will naturally fit in a team.
Then, talk about their values and goals.
What motivates and interests them? You can, for example:
What kind of workplace environment do you find most satisfying?
What career goals do you have in mind?
You can use these questions to determine if the company shares your values. This simple method is used by many Human Resources Outsourcing services to prevent mismatches.
Then, test their flexibility.
Someone who is able to handle change and challenges will be a good fit for your culture. You can ask them:
What would you do, if suddenly your duties changed?
How do you deal with working with others who hold different views than yours?
Working on Training and Development Programs I have learned that adaptability in the workplace is essential.
You can also use personality tests to help you.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a personality test that can help you understand how a person thinks. A person who is good at teamwork may do well in a group environment, whereas someone who prefers to work alone could be more successful in an independent position.
When hiring for culture fit, I have seen many companies successfully use personality testing.
Be open to diversity
Diversity is just as important to embrace, even if cultural fit matters. Mixing backgrounds, experiences, and ideas makes teams stronger and more innovative. Over the years, I have learned that teams with a good balance between cultural fit and diverse members are more effective.
Re-examine the interview
Gather your team after the interview and talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate. You can make better decisions together. When working with Recruiting and Staffing Services, I have found that having a team discussion after an interview is always beneficial.
Conclusion:
Finding someone to fit your company culture is similar to finding the last piece in a puzzle. Asking the right questions and focusing on the values of your business will help you find the best candidate.
My experience in Human Resources Consulting Services and Training and Development Programs has taught me that hiring based on cultural fit doesn't only mean filling an open position, but also building a happier and stronger team.