Hiring employees who fit your company culture can have a lasting impact on retention, engagement and overall business success. While skills can often be developed through training, values and work styles are typically a better indicator of whether someone will thrive within your organization.
Every workplace has its own culture, shaped by leadership, communication, work-life balance and organizational values. Defining that culture is the first step toward making better hiring decisions.
Here are a few ways employers can hire with company culture in mind:
- Ask employees how they would describe your company culture and identify common themes.
- Track hiring metrics such as cost per hire, time to fill and quality of hire.
- Develop an employer brand that accurately reflects your workplace.
- Ask interview questions that reveal a candidate’s work style, values and motivation.
- Train managers to conduct behavioral interviews that go beyond technical qualifications.
Hiring for company culture doesn’t mean hiring people who are all alike. It means identifying candidates whose values, behaviors and approach to work align with your organization’s mission and expectations.
Human resources also plays an important role by evaluating whether workplace policies support the culture the organization wants to create. Regularly reviewing hiring practices and ensuring compliance with employment laws can help build a stronger workforce over time.
This article was originally written for The MBA’s Business Magazine. The original can be read here.