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At some point during your candidate interviews, you’ll need to place skill sets to the side and shift your focus to the applicant’s cultural adaptability. Studies show that cultural alignment can serve as a strong indicator of future success, even among candidates who lack specific skill sets or training. Job related skills can be taught, but cultural fitness can’t, so a few pointed questions during the interview can help you determine if your candidate represents a match. Start with this one: “How would you describe your ideal work environment?”

Why Discuss Work Environment Preferences?

Of course, if we lived in a perfect world, managers could assess cultural alignment by simply asking about it, as in “How do you align with this environment?”…But without context, this question is impossible to answer. Asking the candidate to describe her ideal workplace can be an excellent alternative, since it allows her to present her side of the equation in her own words.

How to Interpret the Answer

Look for keywords in your candidate’s response. For example, listen for cues that address pace and deadlines. Does she thrive under tight deadline pressure? This will work well if your workplace is in constant motion and her speed will impact her ability to keep up and fit in. If your workplace is laid back, and quality work takes a higher priority than fast delivery, then listen closely for evidence that she takes her time, stays focused on the big picture, and seeks flexibility in scheduling.

Competitive or Collaborative

These are also critical keywords to listen for while assessing cultural adaptability. Is your candidate a team player or a driven loner? Does she prefer to lead or follow? Will she do whatever it takes to “win”, or will she emphasize team victory and be willing to take a back seat or a supporting role now and then? Listen for answers as she describes her dream workplace.

Listen for Honesty

Too often, candidates answer this question by scanning the interviewer for “tells,” and then reciting whatever he or she seems to want to hear. Give your applicant credit if she does the opposite and searches within herself for an honest answer that reflects her preferences accurately. Honesty on the candidate’s part will help both of you assess the potential of this partnership.

Don’t Interrupt

Allow the candidate to speak freely whenever you present her with an open-ended question like this. Unless time is factor and you need to move on to the next question, don’t cut her answer short—you’ll only be compromising your access to information that can help you make a decision.

For more guidance on shaping your interviews and making the most of each session, reach out to the staffing team at Expert.

 

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