Culture fit job interview questions: how to prepare for them
A company’s culture is the most important aspect of any job. It is what makes the company attractive to potential employees and what keeps them there.
It’s also an important factor in the hiring process. In order to make sure that they are a good fit, candidates need to be aware of what the company's culture is like and what they are looking for.
Hiring managers often ask questions that are designed to see if a candidate will be a good fit for their company culture. These questions are usually about your work habits, personality, and values.
The following questions might be asked during a job interview:
1. What do you think is the most important aspect of teamwork?
This is your chance to show recruiters that you can work and collaborate effectively with others. Even if your job requires you to be more independent, a potential employer will still want to know that you will get along with others.
To answer this question, you can choose a number of options. You could go towards communication. Teamwork requires effective communication and updating your team with new information. Working with others won’t work if people can’t find ways to communicate with each other.
You could say that teamwork leads to more creativity. Working with various different minds from different backgrounds can lead to more unique ideas. This is how companies can find out of the box solutions.
Another important aspect of teamwork that could be mentioned is being able to compromise. If you can’t accept someone else’s idea instead of your own, this can cause conflicts.
Teams have to be open-minded, supportive and have good conflict resolution skills.
2. What do you think about taking risks in your work?
Recruiters will ask this question to get an idea of how you make decisions, and how your thought process works when making important decisions.
Certain types of organizations, especially startups and more innovative companies, will want someone who is willing to take more risks. Of course, these decisions have to be ones that will benefit the company.
This is where the interviewer can find out things that aren’t in your CV. The way you answer this question shows part of your personality and a bit of your leadership abilities.
An answer to this question could be that risks are necessary to grow and achieve more. However, they have to be thought out well to avoid too many failures.
3. How would you describe your work style?
This question requires you to have some background knowledge of the company, something that you should always have before a job interview. According to a study by Seed Scientific, 47% of recruiters don't offer jobs to candidates with no company knowledge.
In this case, you should research the work culture of the company. Are they more formal or laid back, this can be an indicator of their work style and can help you tailor your answer to what the organization is looking for.
This is also a chance to sell your skills and work ethic. Try to include two or three of these keywords in your answer:
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- Creative
- Team-oriented
- Flexible
- Adaptable
- Collaborative
- Transparent
This is a good place to mention that you can work well with others, but are also independent and have initiative. Give examples of previous work styles you experienced and how you used your skills to thrive in those environments.
4. What are your hobbies?
Use this opportunity to show more of your personality and share the things you enjoy. This gives recruiters an idea of what your work-life balance is like and if you’d enjoy company events or team building activities.
Be honest in your answers but try not to ramble. Remember, you’re in a job interview, but a potential employer will like to see your passion and enthusiasm for things. And you never know, you might have the same interests as your interviewer, allowing you to make a personal connection with them. This means they’ll be more likely to remember you.
5. How could a manager best support you?
Some people like to have a boss that’s very appreciative, others like to be left alone by their manager. Everyone is different, so it’s important to be honest and share what management style will help you be most successful in the role.
Perhaps the type of manager you want isn't at a certain company, don’t take it as a loss. Be grateful that you avoided working with a boss that wouldn't be able to help you reach your full potential.
6. How do you handle stress at work?
This question is asked to know how you are under pressure and stress. Here you’ll want to show off your soft skills with specific examples.
The interviewer wants a candidate that can stay positive in stressful situations, but they are really looking for someone with leadership, problem-solving, time management, adaptability and other soft skills.
Share examples where you took the right action to create a solution. Highlight your abilities more than how you felt at the moment.
7. Do you believe it’s more important to work fast or get the job done right?
This is a trick question, but the best answer focuses on a bit of both. It’s important to create high-quality work but within a certain deadline. Getting the job done but also having time management skills is something that recruiters look for in all potential candidates.
8. What motivates you?
Recruiters use this question to see if you align with their values and the responsibilities of the open position. It also shows what you enjoy doing and drives you.
Be honest, but always keep your answer relevant to the job itself. Some responses might include being creative to come up with innovative solutions, leading a team to success, gaining new skills, and so on.
Let the company know that you’re not just there for the paycheck, they already know that you’re interested in the salary! So, show your interest in other ways if you actually want the job.
Don’t let these simple phrases stop you from getting hired! Keep them out of your vocabulary during the job search and impress employers. Read more here →
