Want to Find Great Candidates? Should You or Shouldn’t You Hire for Culture Fit?

Times are changing, and so are the people, systems, and processes. In recent years, It has become essential to find great candidates who match the culture and values of a company. Why is this important? You may ask. One way we can understand this is to picture a company as an entity with its distinct personality, just like people. This distinct personality is what is referred to as the company’s “business culture”. And we can all agree that for there to be a measurable amount of growth, there has to be a level of congruence between employees and the values and norms of the business. The character centered around a company’s culture is built initially by its founders, the vision of the company, its hiring practices, and eventually the employees. Given that growth is one of the key indicators of business success, company culture can sometimes evolve even as the company grows. But while the culture transitions within the growing company, it is crucial that the company never lose sight of its original values.

The best way to always keep this in check is through culture-fit hiring when it is time to find great candidates to fill open or new emerging roles within a company.

In this article, we will take a look at what culture-fit hiring is all about and why it is essential to find great candidates that fit your company’s culture.

But first, what is culture-fit hiring?

Culture-fit can be hard to define but you sure do know when it is missing during a hiring process. Culture-fit hiring is a concept that recognizes candidates who have the personality and business attributes to match the values, norms, and beliefs upheld in an organization. While we might be focused on why you should find great candidates that fit your company culture, it is paramount to mention that this is not a one-way show as candidates, more than before, consider culture fit too and are mindful of the type of employer they will be working for. Just as individuals have different personalities, so also, business culture varies from company to company which is why some people fit into a set of business values but not into others. You must understand that culture-fit hiring does not mean hiring identical people. Also, it should never be a tool to discriminate against diversity. Great company culture will always reflect a diverse workforce.

Find great candidates who enhance the company culture

After successfully cultivating the company culture, you should find great candidates who will enhance it. It is essential to go for candidates who believe in your organization’s mission and who share a similar attitude as their potential teammates. To be more practical, a middle-aged employee with family commitments might be unable to fit into a culture of younger people who are happy to work late, but they bring in a lot of knowledge and experience which could make a difference to the business. They might be unable to meet during the company’s social gatherings due to family commitments but that does not mean they don’t meet with the company’s values. Plus, a person who prefers working on their own might not fit into a culture of teamwork. But at the same time, a company does not want to build members of teams who think and act alike. For example, a company can decide to gravitate toward candidates that are positive-minded, self-motivated, and adaptable. A perfect way for this type of matchmaking is to use video interviewing software which will help you get detailed AI-personality reports of candidates. With that being said, you can understand why it is vital to get culture-fit hiring right, as getting this wrong might result in unfavorable cracks.

Why you should hire for culture fit

Culture-fit is a way to find great candidates and filter through the many applications. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of why culture fit is a factor to consider for your hiring process. Employee retention Employees are a company’s biggest asset and to keep these valuable assets, it is essential that they feel happy and connected in the place they work. You might have to deal with an employee retention problem if your employees don’t align with the values of your organization. Think about it. A company culture where the company founder believes in an open office plan and team projects to foster creativity and progress might be unfit for an employee who is an introvert that prefers privacy. In no time, the employee can become less satisfied and the company will encounter issues of absenteeism and presenteeism. Communication When there is an alignment of values in an organization, employees find it easier to communicate. Strong business culture in a company will always spark an interest in collaborative working processes and open communication with employees. Employee engagement Businesses need a dedicated level of engagement from employees to achieve success. Therefore, people who are in jobs that align with their personalities are more confident and competent in their workplace. When employees’ beliefs are in tune with the company’s business values and culture, they are most likely to stay loyal to the company and show a high level of commitment. High-level performance When employees have a sense of belonging in an organization and they can relate to the shared beliefs, they are more enthusiastic about taking on new challenges and responsibilities. The willingness to go the extra mile directly benefits the team members and the company in terms of performance and productivity.

Bottom line

At the end of the day, it’s no easy feat to teach someone how to fit or resonate with an organization’s culture and goals. This is why it is essential to find great candidates who share similar beliefs with your company, from the very start. Hiring a candidate who is a cultural fit, will positively impact your success, and help you foster company longevity. Looking for the right tool to get you started? EVA-REC is a comprehensive hiring platform that helps small businesses to corporate giants build skillful workforces and hire top talent at scale. Our purpose is to help companies of all sizes find, attract, and hire the right people, every time. It offers world-class AI features and technology that are fully customizable – and creates a rich and immersive hiring experience for HR teams and candidates alike. Seeing is believing! Request a free demo and see the exceptional results you can achieve with EVA-REC today.

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