Interviewers will always assess whether you can fit the company’s culture through a series of questions. A company’s culture comprises several aspects, including work hours, values, employee interaction, dressing code, and the work environment, among many others.
We always advise interviewees to find out as much as possible about an entity’s culture ahead of the interview in preparation for such questions. Remember, no one wants a new hire that will have problems adapting and identifying with their culture. Here are some of the questions that employers ask to find out if you can fit in if given the job:
1. What’s Your Preferred Working Style?
I have worked for diverse companies in my career and experienced various working styles. However, I prefer working in team settings, even though I do not have a problem working alone. I am glad that this entity values and promotes teamwork, as I am confident that I will blend in fast if granted this opportunity.
2. Do You Have Any Deal Breakers?
Even though I always strive to adapt to different environments, I have a few reservations. I wouldn’t be okay working in an entity that does not respect my religious beliefs. I believe in embracing diversity and allowing everyone to pursue what they believe in, provided that they do not harm others or negatively reflect on the workplace. I am glad that this company respects diversity, which is one of your pillars.
3. What Do You Think About Our Dress Code?
I love your dress code. I have always wanted to work for this entity, which makes me ready to put on your uniform with pride. I love identifying with my workplace, so your dress code and uniform will come in handy. I can’t wait to wear your branded shirts and pullovers and embody this company’s image. I’m sure that I would look stunning. (On a light note)
4. Describe Your Ideal Work Environment
I am quite flexible, given that I have managed to work in different environments, even though some weren’t as impressive. Anyway, I like institutions that believe in hard work and employee motivation. During my career, I have discovered that motivation is directly linked to employee morale, and therefore the productivity rates in entities that value employee motivation is generally higher. By motivation, I am majorly referring to intrinsic motivation, which is generally long-lasting compared to extrinsic motivation.
5. How Did You Fond Your Last Employer’s Culture?
I loved all the aspects of my last employer’s culture, which may explain why I stayed longer at their institution. They had amazing work policies, resonating values, and meaningful practices. They particularly inculcated the spirit of teamwork in every employee, ensuring that we were always there for each other and willing to take on projects together. The company was also built on openness; therefore, every employee was free to bring up a suggestion or an idea regardless of their role. I am glad that I had a chance to work with them.
6. Do You Normally Take Work Home With You?
I rarely take work home with me as I generally strive to handle everything within the working hours. I normally plan myself at the beginning of the day by listing everything that needs to be done and prioritizing them. I am also pretty fast and can multitask, qualities that come in handy in task completion. However, I don’t have a problem taking work home with me if the need arises. I have been forced to do so a few times due to tight deadlines and sudden unanticipated workload changes.
7. How Many Hours Do You Generally Work?
I am pretty flexible and can’t say I have a definite number of hours. All I can say is that I usually give my all during working hours and block out all outside distractions, helping me handle tasks quickly. I don’t have a problem working for 7-9 hours with small breaks for rejuvenation. I can also work overtime as long as I am notified early enough to get everything in order or make necessary adjustments. I am confident that I will manage your preferred number of working hours.
8. What Do You Know About Us?
I know a handful about you, given that I have been following you for some time. First, you put a lot of value in bettering your employees socially, economically, and career-wise, which explains why you are one of the most lucrative companies for job seekers. You have a mentorship program for recruits and interns, which many of my friends have benefitted from. You also value excellence and hard work, explaining why you are currently one of the best-performing companies in the region. Lastly, even though I could go on and on, you have several subsidiaries in different places in the world that share your beliefs and culture.
9. What’s Your Best Stress Handling Technique?
Over the years, I have discovered that finding and eliminating triggers is the best stress management technique. Therefore, I always address all the potential stress causes when going about my work. I plan and prioritize my work accordingly to avoid being overwhelmed and engage in healthy habits to avoid stress. However, if it catches up with me, I usually take time to think, strategize and then pick myself up. I prefer not to overfocus on the situation or cause but actively work on conquering it. I am glad that I always succeed most of the time.
10. What Are You Looking Forward To In This Job?
I look forward to an opportunity for self-improvement as I also benefit from this workplace. I need the challenges and perspectives that this company offers; therefore, as I work on self-improvement, I will also contribute positively to your success. I can’t wait to blend in with your current team and learn from them as we share our skills and experiences. I am confident that I will succeed in this job.
11. Who’s Your Best Boss?
I owe my career to my first boss. I was fresh from college and finding it hard to transition into my career life. I didn’t have any tangible experience apart from my internship and needed time to adjust. When he noticed that I was struggling, he decided to mentor me, teaching me important lessons that have helped me succeed in this career. I steadily rose from the slowest to the best-performing employee in the organization. Even though he left for greener pastures after a year, we have managed to keep in touch. I always remember everything he taught me.
12. How Do You Normally Handle Conflicts?
Disagreements and conflicts can be common in the workplace, even though they shouldn’t be a norm. Everyone should strive to be as accommodative as possible to avoid unnecessary conflicts. I have been in different teams and thus acquired many conflict resolution skills that come in handy during disagreements and conflicts. I can mediate between parties, giving them the right environment to solve their issues. Also, I am always willing to humble down and initiate a conflict resolution process if I find myself in a similar situation.
13. In Your Opinion, What’s The Best Way To Handle Pressure?
Every employee should be prepared to experience and handle pressure, often occasioned by increased workloads or tight deadlines. I have discovered that avoiding panicking is the first thing to do during such instances. I normally take a few minutes to breathe in and out, clearing my mind for the next step, strategizing. I consider all the possible solutions to whatever I am facing, be it too much workload or tight deadlines, and pick the best. I don’t also shy away from asking for help where necessary.
14. Describe Yourself
I would describe myself as a hardworking, patient, and kind person. I normally put my best foot forward when going about my roles regardless of the workload and treat others how I would love to be treated. I normally take time to learn those around me, from their habits and triggers to patterns, to better understand them. I also have high integrity, which you will see from my undertakings in granting me this opportunity. Lastly, I am always willing to learn and will take the extra step to quench my thirst for knowledge.
15. Describe Your Ideal Colleagues
Having been part of several teams in my career, I have met different people. I have worked with kind, arrogant, hardworking, lazy, and supportive colleagues, among many other traits. I prefer being in the same building with supportive and hardworking people, which are my biggest strengths. I love colleagues who are always willing to put their best feet forward when going about their roles and do not mind uplifting others. I thrive better in such environments, which I believe exist here.
16. What Is Your Success Evaluation Criterion?
Even though most people judge success by results, I find that there are important aspects that are often ignored. I evaluate success by the impacts my actions or role generate. Therefore, I don’t consider myself successful just by achieving excellent results unless I have positively impacted a person, society or organization. I normally have a holistic view of success, which I believe has always pushed me to work hard and do better in all aspects. I am sure that I will impact the lives of my colleagues and the organization in general if given this opportunity.
17. Why Are You Interested In Us?
There are several reasons why anyone would want to work here. Your excellent work policies embrace diversity and support employee unity, making you a dream workplace. You put a lot of trust and value in teamwork and collaboration, which is why you are among the top-performing companies in the country. I would also love to participate in your mentorship program, which many of my friends who have worked here keep applauding. In short, you embody everything one would want in an employer.
18. Describe Your Ideal Manager
I am glad that my experiences in this career have made me witness different management styles since I know what to do and who to be if I ever ascend into a management position. All in all, I have enjoyed working with managers who actively lead instead of bossing people around. I have had managers take up active roles and inspire us towards set objectives-experiences that I cherish to date. I have also witnessed managers threaten to fire people for the smallest mistakes- experiences I have always tried to forget. I will choose the former anytime.
19. Do You Think You Will Fit In Here?
I have no reasons to doubt that I will fit in well. I have taken the time to learn as much as possible about your company culture, which is impressive. I love your management style, work policies, and modes of operations. I have also always loved your dress code, which won’t pose a challenge. I also have everything you require on your new entrances- willingness to learn, ability to work in team settings, and adaptability to change. I will work hard for self and organizational betterment.
20. What’s Your Take On Working Overtime?
I don’t have a problem with working overtime as it is sometimes necessary. I am highly flexible and can’t mind some extra hours. However, I believe that unless planned or stated from the beginning, one should always be informed early enough for many reasons. I normally conduct prior planning on my personal affairs and may need time to make changes or necessary adjustments. I would therefore appreciate being informed about shift changes, extra hours, and other pertinent information early enough.
21. What Would Make You Quit A Job?
I always plan on long-term engagements in every sphere of my life; therefore, I rarely quit jobs. However, I would be forced to leave if my religious and harmless personal beliefs are not respected, even though I haven’t had such an experience as all the entities I have worked in have been supportive. I also love advancement in my personal and career life and would have to find a better place if my career advancement is thwarted. Lastly, I can’t work well with sudden oppressive changes or policies, especially those passed without inviting the employees to give their opinions, hence involving all stakeholders.
22. Mention Some Of The Times You Would Prefer To Work Alone
Even though teamwork has several advantages, it is sometimes unviable, forcing one to work alone. I prefer working independently if I feel that other team members are impeding my progress, either through lack of involvement or blatant disregard for deadlines and objectives. I also prefer working alone after we have delegated work as a team, as I focus more and work at my own pace, provided all the deadlines are met. Lastly, I don’t mind working alone if it is the only available option.
23. What Are You Most Passionate About?
I am passionate about making the world a better place for everyone and everything in it. I am always conscious of how my actions affect everything around me, including the environment since I believe we should all be accountable if we intend to better the world. I am also passionate about self-improvement, whether socially, economically, or career-wise. I am willing to go to all ends to move a step ahead from my last position, be it daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. I am glad that my passions inspire others.
24. In Your Opinion, What Is The Best Way Of Maintaining Good Relationships With Others In The Workplace?
Every employee should strive to maintain a good relationship with colleagues since a lack of it can negatively affect teamwork and productivity. One of the most important things to do in this case is to respect boundaries. Everyone has their principles that should be respected, which explains why I normally take the first few weeks to learn from my colleagues. Maintaining a good relationship also demands that one does their part instead of burdening other group members. I always ensure that I am productive and observant of all set deadlines and objectives.
25. What’s Your Take On Being Challenged?
I am passionate about career advancement, which among many other ways, is achieved via new challenges. I love being challenged in my career and personal life as I get pushed to give my best or work harder in return. Challenging situations allow me to achieve and explore my potential, which is one of the reasons I applied for this position. I always believe that we can’t know what we are capable of until faced with a situation that seems impossible. I am definitely looking forward to new challenges here.
Conclusion
These 25 questions should guide you on what to expect in a cultural fit interview. Note that companies must hire employees who can adapt strictly to their cultural aspects. Therefore, ensure you understand your potential employer’s culture before sending an application. All the best in answering these questions!
