Interview Questions to Uncover a Strong Company Culture Fit

Fostering a cohesive company culture is not just a buzzword; it’s a key factor that can make or break your organization’s success. The statistics speak for themselves: employees who feel a deep connection to their workplace are more likely to be engaged and invested in their roles. 

It follows that a good company culture fit is the dividing line between high employee turnover and workforce stability.

But what is company culture? In a nutshell, it’s the shared attitudes, behaviors, and values that an organization instills within its team. In this blog post, we’ll delve into what defines a strong company culture and explore interview questions to assess whether a candidate is the right fit for your organization’s culture.

Defining Company Culture

At its core, company culture encapsulates the values that unite your team, irrespective of hierarchy or position. For instance, here at interviewstream, our cultural values encompass accountability, transparency, passion, and curiosity, among others. A strong culture should be evident throughout all levels of your business, from entry-level roles to C-suite executives, providing a common guiding framework that directs the actions of every employee.

A well-nurtured culture fosters a sense of unity among team members, sets clear benchmarks for performance and collaboration, and motivates employees to collaboratively pursue a shared mission. Simply put, your company’s culture is the lens through which team interactions, work representation, and brand identity are focused.

The Impact of Culture on Workplace Performance

Given that adults spend a significant portion of their waking hours with colleagues, the workplace has evolved into a crucial community. Cultivating a positive culture correlates with enhanced performance and reduced turnover. 

Employees who feel engaged, valued, and integrated into their work environment are more likely to be productive, loyal, and adaptable. Essentially, a good company culture fit means a good employee experience. And that starts from step one of the interview process.

Interview Questions to Gauge Company Culture Fit

These questions are designed to dig deeper into a candidate’s mindset, behavior, and values to determine their alignment with your company’s culture. Feel free to adapt them to suit the specific nuances of your organization and the characteristics you’re seeking in your ideal candidates.

1. Can you describe a work environment where you’ve felt most comfortable and productive?
2. Why are you interested in this position at [our company]?
3. What values do you think are essential for a successful team?
4. Give an example of a situation where you had to adapt to a change in company policies or procedures. How did you handle it?
5. Describe a time when you provided feedback to a colleague or supervisor. How did you approach the conversation?
6. Can you share an experience when you had to handle a disagreement or conflict with a coworker?
7. In your opinion, what’s the most crucial aspect of maintaining a positive work environment?
8. Give me an example of how you’ve demonstrated one of our company’s core values in a previous role.
9. Can you discuss a time when you had to make a decision that aligned with the company’s values but was challenging?
10. What motivates you to contribute your best effort to your work each day?
11. Describe a situation where you took the initiative to improve a process or situation at your previous job.
12. How do you approach giving and receiving constructive criticism within a team environment?
13. Discuss a time when you had to adapt to a change in company strategy. How did you handle the transition?
14. What do you think is the role of a company’s culture in the professional development of its employees?
15. How do you practice [x company value] in your work or personal life?

Things to Remember When Interviewing for Culture Fit

Culture fit isn’t about shared hobbies; it’s about assessing whether a candidate’s values and behavior align with your organization’s ethos. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when crafting interview questions for company culture fit.

• Favorite and Least Favorite Aspects: Find out what aspects of your candidate’s previous job they enjoyed the most. And, which parts were less appealing. These responses can hint at alignment with your company’s culture.
• Feedback Preferences: How does your candidate prefer to receive feedback? Understanding their communication style offers insights into how they might collaborate and adapt within your culture.
• Communication Approach: Describe your communication style and ask how they have communicated in their previous position. This question helps gauge whether their preferred communication aligns with the organization’s communication norms.
• Alignment with Company Values: What values does your candidate prioritize in a manager or company? This question uncovers their compatibility with your organization’s core values.
• Contributions to Culture: How does your candidate envision themself fitting into the company culture? Their response showcases whether they’ve researched your culture and how they see themselves thriving within it.

Embrace Culture’s Unique Nuances and Ask The Right Questions Every Time

Remember, the ultimate aim is to foster an authentic, distinct, and enduring company culture. Employees want to feel part of something bigger, be their authentic selves at work, and experience camaraderie with colleagues. 

Mastering the art of gauging cultural fit during interviews is a strategic approach that yields long-term benefits. By asking thought-provoking questions, you can unearth candidates who seamlessly blend with your company’s DNA, contributing to a harmonious and productive work environment. 

Using interviewing technology to ask the right questions every time can help you on your way to finding the right employee. One way video interviews are a great way to both show off your company culture through video screening questions, but also gauge company culture fit. Talk to us today to see how interviewstream helps companies choose the right candidates.

About The Author

Caroline Chessia is the Marketing Operations Specialist at interviewstream. She loves color-coordinated graphs, hiking in the mountains, and every dog she meets—especially the Golden Retrievers.