There are many different qualities that make up the perfect hire. For example, while previous experience and qualifications go a long way to determining whether or not a candidate is the right fit, they are not the only factors you should take into consideration.
For example, you must also take into their consideration their soft skills, and whether or not they are a cultural fit. While this is a little more difficult when compared to analysing their CV or questioning them about previous rules, there are many different ways in which you can assess soft skills and cultural fit.
How to assess soft skills and cultural fit during the hiring process.
Know What You Want from The Interview.
When it comes to finding an employee that ticks all of your boxes, it is important that you first know what these boxes are. When assessing their cultural fit and soft skills, this goes beyond their qualifications and industry experience. For example, are you looking for a candidate that will work as part of a larger team, or somebody who is able to work independently?
In addition to this, you should also ensure that you have a clear understanding of your company culture and the working environment that you are trying to cultivate. That way, you can find new hires that align with this vision and will help you work toward this goal.
Ask Open-Ended Questions.
As mentioned above, a candidate’s soft skills are not necessarily incorporated into their CV, despite often being among their biggest assets. However, you can find out more about the soft skills they possess by asking open-ended questions that require them to give thoughtful, considered answers. For example, when asking a candidate to discuss a challenge they’ve faced in the workplace, and how they resolved it, their answers can reveal a range of soft skills, from conflict resolution and negotiation to analytical thinking.
Know What Questions to Ask.
Knowing the right questions to ask during the interview process can also be useful when it comes to determining whether or not an employee is a cultural fit – i.e, whether or not they will blend well into your team based on factors such as ethics, goals and working style.
Fortunately, there are many questions that you can weave into your interview that will support you in finding a candidate who is an excellent cultural fit. This includes:
- What values do you think are important to embody for this role?
- What are your personal and professional goals?
- What are your weaknesses and how do you manage them?
Create the Right Interview Environment.
While the majority of candidates will always be a little nervous before a job interview, creating an environment where they feel calm, relaxed and supported is crucial. In fact, it can enhance their performance quite considerably, as they are able to perform to the best of their ability, providing detailed answers to your questions.
Furthermore, by creating an environment in which candidates feel as relaxed as possible, this means that they are much more likely to open up and be themselves during your time together. This, again, can be useful in determining whether or not they are a cultural fit for your team as you’ll gain a much deeper insight into their personality.
Final Thoughts.
In short, the key to assessing soft skills and cultural fit among candidates, no matter what kind of role you are filling, often lies in the skill of the interviewer. By being able to ask the right questions, and make a candidate feel as comfortable as possible, you’ll quickly be able to assess whether or not they are the right person to bring into your team.
If this is something you struggle with, we’re here to help. In fact, one of the services included in our partnership model is built around helping managers to refine their interview skills. This way, they’re able to conduct effective interviews with all candidates that can speed up the hiring process and increase company confidence in the new hire, before they’ve even had their first day on the job.
If you’d like to find out more about this service, which will be directly tailored to your business needs, or any of the other recruitment services included in the partnership package, please do not hesitate to get in touch today.
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