How Games Help Companies Hire for Culture Fit

The hiring process is an investment in time and money, so it’s important to use the process in the best way to attract and hire the best candidates. Resume review is an easy way to quickly understand someone’s past work experience and if they have the minimum skills to do a job. Interviews are a good way to learn about someone’s personality and dig deeper into how a candidate’s skills might align with the role and company at large. In an interview, the interviewer is also able to learn about the candidate’s personality. But, there’s a better way to hire for culture fit than through resumes and interviews. Game play during the recruitment process can show whether or not a candidate will be a good culture fit for your company. If you’ve been wondering, how can I make recruitment fun, including games in your hiring process is a great way to be both fun and efficient. It may be unexpected, but games help companies hire for culture fit.

What is culture fit in recruitment?

To understand the goal of hiring a fit for your company’s culture, it is important to first understand what company culture is. Every company has a different culture which is, in essence, its personality. Like any person, a company culture can have a laid back or uptight personality, be flexible or strict, or positive or negative. And just like any person, different kinds of companies attract and deter different kinds of people. 

Company culture includes many aspects. A few examples of what makes up company culture are your team values, how you treat your employees, the work environment, and your company’s mission, values, and ethics. It may include the layout of the office which might be cubicles or open-office plans. The time people clock in and the time they leave the office are a part of your company culture. Does everyone work through dinner? That’s a part of your culture. Is there a workplace uniform? That’s part of your company culture, too. Your company culture also encompasses how your workers feel about the company, including their negative or positive experiences. When someone shares what it is like to work at your company, they will describe the company culture—which is also your reputation. In a strong company culture, morale is high, and employees are engaged, productive, and empowered.

How do you hire for cultural fit?

When you are adding a new person or group of people to your team, it’s important to consider how they may fit in with the existing culture. Do they like to wear jeans to work while you require a suit and jacket? Did they expect to have unlimited time off while you have a strict two week PTO limit? Are they very serious while your team interacts pretty casually? Do you expect people to clock in at 9:00 but they work better later in the day? Do they want to work totally remotely while your team has transitioned back into the office? All of these things may signal a difference in cultural fit, so take them into account when hiring for culture.

Why do firms today hire for culture fit?

Hiring and replacing employees who leave a company is expensive. It costs recruiters and current employees’ time and money. So it’s important to hire the right people who will stay with your company for a long time and be positive and proactive employees. On the other side of things, employees are more likely to be happy in a place where they can find meaning and purpose which leads to higher job satisfaction and overall well being. Focusing on hiring for culture fit from the start ensures that neither an employer or candidate wastes time and is confused about the expectations of a job and workplace. In an interview, candidates can ask and hirers can answer questions such as “How do you describe your company culture?” but to see if someone may be a great fit for that company culture, more personal interaction, like games, helps.