Why It is Important to Hire People for Cultural Fit and How to Do ItSelecting people who align with the workplace's unique culture helps reduce cost and boosts productivity

ByPooja Singh

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

One of the most challenging and important roles of HR is finding a candidate who has the relevant job experience, career history, and a certain degree of technical skill. But in the past few years, another criterion has become vital: cultural fit.

As companies expand in length and breadth, they realize the importance of hiring people who align with their company's unique culture and values, in other words, are a cultural fit.

A 2016 study by consultancy firm Cubiks Netherlands of 55 large organizations, which included employers such as Philips, IKEA and TomTom, found that nine in 10 recruiters rejected candidates owing to their lack of cultural fit.

Cubiks defined cultural fit as "the way in which an employee connects with the organizational culture. This culture is formed from the values, vision, norms, working language, symbols, belief systems and habits of staff, along with their tacit agreement to a set of acceptable behaviours. When these elements are aligned, they create social cohesion, and a high level of social cohesion builds strength in the organization."

Diversity still matters

There's also ample research that shows hiring people for "cultural fit" has become an essential part of effective, strategic hiring, as it results in employees feeling more connected, which translates to better productivity and more success.

This, however, doesn't mean that companies hire people with the exact personality type. Diversity in people and opinions are important as it offers a wider scale of knowledge, experience and opinion.

在这个视频中,温迪,Si Omnistream的首席执行官ngapore-based retail data-analytics startup which was founded in Hong Kong, shares three ways to find people who are "cultural fit" and why it is a bad idea to hire someone who has an impressive résumé but is not fit when it comes to the company's culture.

Wavy Line
Pooja Singh

Former Features Editor, Entrepreneur Asia Pacific

A stickler for details, Pooja Singh likes telling people stories. She has previously worked withMint-Hindustan Times,Down To Earthand Asian News International-Reuters.

Related Topics

Business News

'This Is My Life Now': Man Hysterically Documents Elon Musk's 'X' Sign Blaring Flashing Lights Into His Bedroom Window

The sign, reportedly put up without a permit, is shining bright at X HQ in San Francisco.

Marketing

'Barbie' Was a Publicity Machine — Here's How Barbie and 4 Other Blockbusters Mastered the Art of Marketing

'Barbie' reportedly had a $150 million marketing budget, and it exceeded that figure in its opening weekend. Here's how their marketing team pulled it off.

Business News

'Awful Advice': Barbara Corcoran Slammed For 'Tone Deaf' Business Advice to Interns

The "Shark Tank" star shared tips on social media about how interns can increase their chances of getting hired full-time, but the public reaction didn't go as planned.

Green Entrepreneur

Phoenix Has Hit 110 Degrees for a Month, But This One Invention Is Cooling Things Down a Tad

For the Arizona city amid a record-breaking heat wave, cool surfaces bring a modicum of relief.

Growing a Business

Corporate Social Responsibility Is More Than Just Charity — Here's Why It's Good for Business.

Is your organization ready to implement a corporate social responsibility strategy? Discover the impact of CSR on executive decision-making.