Have you ever interviewed for a job and thought it went well only to find out you came runner up?
Did you receive feedback after your interview that they felt the other candidate was a better fit with the culture of the organisation?
Building rapport and making a great first impression will set you apart from other candidates and allow the interviewer to see what it would be like to work with you and how you will fit into their organisation’s culture.
So what exactly is ‘cultural’ fit’?
An organisation’s cultural is the values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviour that their employees embrace. Cultural fit is about the soft skills and traits you possess as a candidate and if these are aligned with the organisations views and way of doing things. This may include your communication style, work practices, demeanour and other individual characteristics.
Why is cultural fit important?
Hiring people that are the right cultural fit benefits both the organisation and the employee. Employees with the necessary qualifications, skills and experience to perform the job combined with cultural fit will work more effectively within the organisation as they are able to easily adapt and fit in. They are also more likely to stay with that organisation.
While you may possess the required experience and qualifications required for the role, if you don’t feel like you fit in with the organisations culture, you may feel disconnected from the organisation and begin looking for another job.
Do your homework: Research the organisation and understand who they are and what their values are. It is just as important that you are comfortable with the culture before you start working with that organisation.
Ask the right questions: The interview is your opportunity to shine and demonstrate your interest in and awareness of the organisation. So don’t be afraid to ask questions and have a genuine conversation with the interviewer.
Know yourself: Be confident in yourself as a potential employee, this can be as simple as having the right handshake, showing positive body language and engaging with the interviewer.
So remember while it may have been your qualifications and experience that landed you the interview it will be your cultural fit and ability to engage and build rapport during the interview that leaves the company with that lasting impression. It has been said that it takes a thousand good impressions to undo a bad first impression, so what can you do to make a great first impression?
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