Why do we interview?

I was thinking about something over the weekend. Why do we interview? I would love to know what your thoughts on personal objective when doing an interview. Is it to understand if someone can do the job? Is someone aligns to your culture? How someone presents themselves?

What is the most important thing to you when interviewing someone?

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Chelsea Thomas

I love this question –

First is, do they align with our culture/principles, at least in essence? Prior experience adds value however without that alignment they may be unsuccessful in other areas.

unknown

I'm with Chelsea about cultural alignment being key. Skills are vital for success: but they can be taught. Culture-fit is so nuanced that it's difficult for someone to absorb if there is a vast misalignment from the start. I am now a convert to, and staunch believer in, behavioural assessments. In the past I did "go with my gut" and hire people in-spite-of their misalignment to the preferred behavioural profile: of COURSE I knew better with my vast experience (ugh). Months later.... I would realize I was wrong and the profile match up data had been correct. I should have paid attention. It hurt both my business, as well as the candidate I hired since there was not a good fit for either of us.

So.... NOW... I trust the data. I review and interview the candidates who have the best behavioural fit-to-role, along with the capability to grow in skill and understanding. When I talk with those best-fit candidates, besides the usual testing for thinking-on-their-feet and being able to effectively tackle objections and answer succinctly... I truly look to answer the question: "do I want to spend many many hours a day working with this person?" There are always good candidates out there: even now. I'd rather wait to work with someone who will consider others as well as their own self-interest (do they understand mutual-benefit??); someone who wants to join our team; and someone whom I'll be happy to spend many hours collaborating with. (Geez Chelsea.... guess you're right...... my long-winded response really leads me back to "culture fit" being the key!!!

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