Culture fit: 5 key interview questions for recruiters

In the world of recruitment, interviewing a candidate goes far beyond assessing technical skills. It's about finding out whether the candidate will be able to integrate harmoniously into the team and the corporate culture. This aspect, often referred to as "culture fit", is crucial to ensuring a fruitful and lasting collaboration. Preparing for an interview therefore requires you to think about questions that will enable you to assess both the candidate's interpersonal skills and his or her know-how. Here are 5 pertinent questions to include in your next fit interview, to better identify the candidate's personality and ability to align with your company's values and employer brand.

1. Can you give me an example of a situation where you had to work closely with a team? What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?

Aim of the question: This question aims to understand how the candidate approaches collaboration and manages conflicts or differences of opinion.
Relevance: It reveals crucial information about the candidate's ability to integrate into teams, communicate effectively and show empathy.
What it reveals: You'll be able to assess whether the candidate's collaboration style is in line with the company culture and the way your teams work.

2. How would you define a good corporate culture? Do you think it's important for your day-to-day work?

Aim of the question: This question helps you understand the candidate's perception of the company culture and its importance to their professional development.
Relevance: It offers insight into the values and work environment the candidate is looking for, which is essential for assessing cultural fit.
What it reveals: You'll be able to discern whether the candidate's expectations and values are aligned with those of your company.

3. What motivates you most in your work and how do you find motivation in difficult times?

Aim of the question: To identify the candidate's sources of motivation and his or her ability to stay motivated in the face of challenges.
Relevance: This question reveals whether the candidate's motivating factors match the aspects that your company can offer.
What it reveals: You'll gain a better understanding of the levers that need to be activated for the candidate to flourish in his or her role.

4. Can you name one of our company's values that particularly resonates with you? Why or why not?

Purpose of the question: To assess whether the candidate has researched your company and shares its core values.
Relevance: This question shows the candidate's interest in your employer brand and their ability to align themselves with your company's culture.
What it reveals: You'll be able to judge the match between the candidate's personal values and those of the company.

5. How do you see your career development? How does this fit in with our company?

Aim of the question: To understand the candidate's career aspirations and how they align with what the company has to offer.
Relevance: This question assesses whether the candidate's career goals are compatible with the opportunities offered by the company.
What it finds: You'll get an indication of how long the candidate might stay and thrive with the company.

Conclusion:

The fit interview is a key moment in the recruitment process. It's not just about assessing a candidate's technical skills, but also about understanding his or her personality, motivations and ability to fit into your company's culture. By asking these questions during the interview, you can better determine whether the candidate is the ideal collaborator for your team and for your company.