That is the question that we will all ponder at least once in our life or in today’s workforce, maybe multiple times. But what message do we need to convey at our job interview that will make us stand out against other candidates in today’s competitive job market?
In the past, we would have thought it was just about tertiary qualifications or years of experience that would make the cut. After speaking to many hiring managers of great companies who are hiring in today’s market, the answer is NO. Today, having the right academic qualifications and experience to build on that knowledge is no longer enough. I recently spoke to a candidate for a high-level job who was one of three short-listed, and over a series of further interviews, nailed the position.
When I asked for feedback from the CEO hiring as to why he was the successful candidate, he answered quite simply, he had the right cultural fit. Today, good to great companies are putting increasing weight on soft skills versus hard skills. Character attributes are of much greater value than specific educational background, specialised knowledge or practical skills. Now more than ever, employers have a vital role in perpetuating a strong culture which starts with recruiting the right applicant – someone who shares the organisation’s vision, mission, and value statements. As the director of Stella and Dot Jessica Herri said: Shaping your culture is more than half done when you hire the right team. So here are some tips to getting off on the right foot before your interview.
- A good place to start for a job candidate navigating the company’s culture is to research the history of the company because the founders typically have a significant impact on the organisation’s early culture.
- Investigate the values of the company and be able to articulate those values at the interview and align those same values with your own in both your personal and professional life.
- Be able to share what aspects of the company’s culture you would love to be part of. Give examples of your attributes that match the company’s work environment – a friendly workplace; one that not only motivates but challenges you to improve; is engaging, nurturing and allows for a sense of autonomy and trust for you to always act and behave in the company’s best interests.
- Even mention the importance of corporate culture as part of your discussion and how you could contribute to shaping that culture as the company moves to the future. Demonstrate that you want to be part of a team that is aligned with the company vision. Acknowledge that you are a strong believer that if the company thrives, you too will thrive.
Can I just conclude by reminding every job applicant that good corporate culture comes down to one thing – it’s people. When looking for a job, it’s not only about what salary you will get, what benefits and conditions you will be eligible for because, in the end, that won’t be enough to give you job satisfaction. All of us thrive on being able to contribute in some way to help the business we work in to prosper. A company with a good culture often has high workplace morale, with highly engaged and productive staff. Isn’t that something you want to be part of?