Can Culture Fit Can Be Assessed Through Unstructured Interviews?
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
In the hiring process, some organizations believe cultural fit can be assessed through unstructured interviews using improvisational questions. However, they also introduce bias against historically marginalized groups. Unstructured interviews tend to favor candidates with racial or ethnic similarities. If you’re considering conducting an interview, consider these reminders to ensure the best possible candidate match. Listed below are some tips on how to conduct an effective unstructured interview.
Culture fit screening involves making “a gut call” about a candidate’s personality. Often, this decision is based on the interviewer’s own personal feelings and intuition, rather than a candidate’s performance in the position. This method is also the most flawed because it reflects the interviewer’s personality, rather than the job itself. It is also highly inaccurate and invites and condones bias.
To assess cultural fit, make sure to prepare a detailed role profile for each job role. Include information about work style. Using structured interviews is more effective because they are less biased. Unstructured interviews are also effective because performance on a task is evaluated against decisions made based upon how arbitrary questions are used to measure future performance and fit Use assessment criteria that are modeled and validated.
Recently, I was asked by a firm to review and make recommendations to it about a new applicant tracking system. They showed me how, based upon a resume, it’s machine learning and AI could determine personality. I asked how they validated their results and was greeted by silence.
The goal of screening is to predict candidate behavior and job performance. Unstructured interviews have lower predictive validity than structured interviews. Structure is essential for assessing candidate behavior, according to Dr. Julia Levashina of Kent State University and her colleagues. Furthermore, it’s more difficult to agree on qualified candidates after conducting unstructured interviews. Therefore, always try to use structured interviewing methods for hiring process.
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2022
Data-Driven Assessments and Culture Fit
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching, as well as executive job search coaching, job coaching, and interview coaching. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 2300 episodes.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a discovery call at my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
My courses are available on my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us/courses
I do a livestream on LinkedIn, YouTube (on the JobSearchTV.com account) and on Facebook (on the Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter page) Tuesdays and Fridays at 1 PM Eastern. You can send your questions about job search, hiring better, management, leadership or to get advice about a workplace issue to me at TheBigGameHunter(at)gmail.com. In the subject line, put the phrase “Office Hours.” You can also message me through chat during the approximately 30 minute show.
Classes On Skillshare https://thebiggamehunter.us/Skillshare
Freelancing or hiring a freelancer: fiverr.com https://thebiggamehunter.us/fiverr. or Freelancer: https://thebiggamehunter.us/freelance
To set up your freelance business correctly: incorporate https://thebiggamehunter.us/incorporate
Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/thebiggamehunter
Watch my videos on YouTube at JobSearchTV.com, the Job Search TV app for fireTV or a firestick or Bingenetworks.tv for Apple TV, and 90+ smart tv’s.
Thinking of making a career change and need some ideas that fit you. CareerFitter offers a free test and if you want more you can upgrade for the paid version.https://thebiggamehunter.us/Career
We grant permission for this post and others to be used on your website as long as a backlink is included and notice is provided that it is provided by Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter as an author or creator.
