Questions to Determine Culture Fit

It is close to the end of graduation season. And like many of this year's graduates you are preparing for job interviews by practicing your responses for the questions you're certain you will be asked. (The MoreThan A Resumé Interview Handbook lists these questions along with the thousand or so derivatives.)  The thing is a skilled interviewer can always tell when a job candidate is over-rehearsed. In others words not being transparent.

To get candidates to be more transparent — this is a good thing because both you and the interviewer are asking and answering questions to determine fit — interviewers have their favorite questions.  The only way to prepare for these questions is to understand your strengths, talents and qualities and that of the organization.

In Adam Bryant's interview with Chris Barbin, chief executive of Appirio, an information technology company, Barbin discussed the Appirio culture and the questions he asks to determine a candidate's fit.  

Here's what Barbin said about Appiro's culture and the questions he asks to determine fit.

"We have three values that we hire against… trust, professionalism and gray matter — as in, how smart are you?"

One of my favorite interview questions is, 'What are you most proud of?' It’s a fascinating question if you just end it there. People will say, 'Well, what do you mean, in business?' And I’ll just say, 'No, what are you proud of?' You can always tell when people kind of make-up answers to impress you.

Another one is, 'What do you stink at?' Some people will say, 'Oh, I take on too much and I work too hard.' Then I’ll say: 'That’s a pretty common answer. Give me something better.' I know things that I stink at. One of the things I’ve realized is that I am not a good deal closer. I’m a good business development guy early in the cycle, but then I might give away too much in the details when we close. So I know when to bring in other people who are really good at that.

So fast-forward three years. You’re talking to your best friends and you’re reflecting on your Appirio career the last few years and you tell them, ‘Hey, this has been an amazing experience at Appirio because of X.’ And then I’ll ask: 'What is X? What would you tell your best friends that that is?'

Then I’d ask another best-friends question: 'If I were to ask those same three best friends to use one word to describe you, and they can’t use the same word, what’s the one word each would say? What are the three words?' 

What’s funny about that question is how many people can’t describe it in a word. Everyone wants to give a paragraph of characteristics and traits. I actually love the people who just sit there and take 30 seconds to think and then just give me three words. And then I always ask on the heels of that: 'What word would you use to describe yourself? Is it one of those words or something else?'” 

You can't predict these questions. You can only be prepared by knowing what you are good and bad at and knowing what an employer is looking for in a job candidate and how you meet the organization's needs.

I'm interested in hearing about the least expected questions you've been asked on a job interview, and what you thought the interviewer was trying to learn about you.  Comment below or send me an email. 
 

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