🎶 Wrong mistake, I made some… 🎶
Every IT manager is there. You will find a candidate with an impressive resume, a long list of certificates and flawless technical interviews. You hire them, be sure they will be game changers for your IT department.
Fast forward six months:
❌They have poor communication with the team.
❌They resist feedback and fight collaboration.
❌Morans down, the IT department you once broke out is now full of tension.
question? You hired skills, not fit.
Technical expertise is important – no argument. But if new employees are not unrelated to the team, share the company’s values, or work well in the existing culture, their technical talent won’t save them (or your department) from destruction.
Good news? Technical skills can be taught. Attitude, adaptability and collaboration are difficult to train. This is why cultural health should be a top priority for your recruitment strategy.
How to hire acculturation (no guess required)
Next time you interview candidates, go beyond their certificates and GitHub repositories. In-depth research:
✅ Conflict Management: “Tell me the last conflict in your job. How did you deal with it?”
✅ Frustration in the workplace: “What was the thing that really annoyed you in my past work?”
✅ Teamwork and adaptability: “If I asked your last boss about your work style, what would they say?”
These questions help reveal how candidates really work in a team, how to deal with challenges, and whether their work style complements (or conflicts with) your existing team dynamics.
First understand your own culture
Hiring cultural fit only works in your case Learn about your company’s culture and team dynamics. If you don’t have a clear understanding of the IT department’s blow, you may end up hiring “good sheep” 🐑 and just put them in a herd of goats🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐.
This doesn’t mean you should always hire people like you have existing teams. Sometimes, different perspectives are exactly what is needed– But you need to be interested in this.
Final Thought: The right balance is important
Of course, cultural fit does not mean hiring clones. Diversity of ideas, backgrounds and personalities is crucial to innovation. But hiring someone who values, collaboration styles, and communication styles align with your team will make them and your department successful.
So, next time you are hiring, don’t just ask yourself, “Can they do this job?” ask, “Will they thrive here?”
