With the economy still down and no dramatic recovery in sight, it has become more important than ever that employers do whatever they can to ensure that they do not make a bad hire, as doing so only creates a drain on the company’s time and resources. In this economy which cannot afford to see companies throwing away money in such a way, it is time that employers begin taking a careful look at the way they interview their candidates and perhaps make a few changes in the process which could save the organization from the unnecessary loses resultant of a bad hiring choice.
What this means is that more employers will need to begin altering the way they conduct their executive search and interview processes, adapting their methods to include way in which to assess a candidate’s compatibility with that companies culture. Overlooking this issue can mean placing an individual who, while their skills, work history, and references may be exceptional, may still not be a personality type which will blend well in the company’s preexisting culture, and who will be out of place within the organization. While this may not seem like that big of a deal, over time this unfavorable pairing can lead to unproductivity, employee turnover, and a variety of other unwelcome
What follows is a look at the top ten questions which executive search firms have identified as being the most effective at determining a candidate’s corporate culture compatibility, and which employers should begin using if they want to avoid making a bad hire.
- In what type of environment do you work best and are the happiest?
- What qualities and/or characteristics in a manager or boss draw out your greatest energy and efforts, and make you strive to succeed? Also, what expectations do you have of your seniors that you believe are crucial for your success in a position?
- What are your feelings/thoughts on inner office friendships with coworkers?
- How would your previous managers describe their relationship with you, and what do you think they would say that you could do more of, cut back on?
- What specifically about your current job or those you have held before it did you like? What did you not like?
- What would your previous coworkers and managers say about your work style and contributions?
- How would you describe your work style? Would you say your prefer to work as part of a team or individually, and, given the choice, what percentage of time do your prefer to work between these options?
- How would you describe the part you tend to play in a team? How would coworkers describe your role in a team?
- Can you give an example of a situation in which you went above and beyond in your duties to achieve success in a project?
- What do you believe is the single most important factor necessary for you to meet with happiness and success in the workplace? What are a few other factors that you believe to be important as well?
