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We've done away with "Cultural fit" interviews at our company as we found they didn't actually do anything for us, maybe we just did them wrong? Has anyone act

We've done away with "Cultural fit" interviews at our company as we found they didn't actually do anything for us, maybe we just did them wrong? Has anyone actually found a use for cultural fit? I mean its not like they help weed out jerks. If someone is a jerk they'll either be a jerk in all interviews or be on their best behavior until they're hired. What should we be looking for in a cultural fit interview that isn't just "looks like us, works like us plays like us"?

shaftoe 11y ago
I use culture fit as a reverse filter. We show the candidate a pretty open view of what working for us is like and let them decide if they're excited or turned off.
- jaawn 11y ago
  I think this is by far the best approach. If I were treated this way during an interview process, I would have a great deal more respect for the organization and manager.
- jrs235 11y ago
  In the past we have taken current developers and a potential hire out for lunch to see if there is "cultural fit". I don't like this idea anymore unless, we have agreed and intend to hire the candidate pending the lunch. However, the existing developers will not be able to override the hiring decision as it is not for them to say "no" but rather it is an opportunity for the candidate to decide if they can get along with the existing team. Is that fair?
fecak 11y ago
"works like us" is certainly much more reasonable (and safer legally) than "looks like us" or "plays like us". It's companies that hire based on the looks like/plays like that give "cultural fit" a bad name (ageism, discrimination, sexism, etc.). When talking about software, I'd refer to a company's development culture. What does the team value in engineers? What are attitudes towards things like testing, shipping code, etc.?
arenaninja 11y ago
The last time I saw a hire based on 'Culture', the developer turned out to be passive aggressive and catty with other developers, but got along great with everyone else. Really weird. I just care that you can handle the technical requirements and that you're able to communicate effectively. Everything else is up for grabs. As for diversity (particularly women), there have been literally zero resumes from women since I started doing interviews
- DanBC 11y ago
  > there have been literally zero resumes from women since I started doing interviews I'd be interested to see some of the job ads. Do you have any links?
  - arenaninja 11y ago
    Sent you a link via e-mail
    - pavel_lishin 11y ago
      Would you mind posting an anonymized version for everyone? Seems like it would be instructive. Obviously, if there's no way to anonymize it without completely changing it, don't.
      - DanBC 11y ago
        It was just a normal job advert written using calm language describing the job requirements. (A list of technologies used, without extreme experience required. There were no dog-whistles or rockstars or ninjas.

shaftoe 11y ago

I use culture fit as a reverse filter. We show the candidate a pretty open view of what working for us is like and let them decide if they're excited or turned off.

jaawn 11y ago
I think this is by far the best approach. If I were treated this way during an interview process, I would have a great deal more respect for the organization and manager.
jrs235 11y ago
In the past we have taken current developers and a potential hire out for lunch to see if there is "cultural fit". I don't like this idea anymore unless, we have agreed and intend to hire the candidate pending the lunch. However, the existing developers will not be able to override the hiring decision as it is not for them to say "no" but rather it is an opportunity for the candidate to decide if they can get along with the existing team. Is that fair?

fecak 11y ago

"works like us" is certainly much more reasonable (and safer legally) than "looks like us" or "plays like us". It's companies that hire based on the looks like/plays like that give "cultural fit" a bad name (ageism, discrimination, sexism, etc.). When talking about software, I'd refer to a company's development culture. What does the team value in engineers? What are attitudes towards things like testing, shipping code, etc.?

arenaninja 11y ago

The last time I saw a hire based on 'Culture', the developer turned out to be passive aggressive and catty with other developers, but got along great with everyone else. Really weird. I just care that you can handle the technical requirements and that you're able to communicate effectively. Everything else is up for grabs. As for diversity (particularly women), there have been literally zero resumes from women since I started doing interviews

DanBC 11y ago
> there have been literally zero resumes from women since I started doing interviews I'd be interested to see some of the job ads. Do you have any links?
- arenaninja 11y ago
  Sent you a link via e-mail
  - pavel_lishin 11y ago
    Would you mind posting an anonymized version for everyone? Seems like it would be instructive. Obviously, if there's no way to anonymize it without completely changing it, don't.
    - DanBC 11y ago
      It was just a normal job advert written using calm language describing the job requirements. (A list of technologies used, without extreme experience required. There were no dog-whistles or rockstars or ninjas.