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August 27, 2024
As companies look for more ways to differentiate themselves and to connect with potential employees, the role of values in the interview process is becoming more important. When all candidates are equally qualified for a role, one way to determine which one is right for the company is to think about the culture fit. And this is where the values-based interview question is so important.
Finding candidates that align with your company values can help to ensure you hire the right people who are going to fit in well with your team. This is why individuals heading into an interview should not only think about how their skills and experience align with the company, but also think about how their values align with the company culture.
Asking about your values is another way to determine if you’re the right fit for a role and for the wider company culture. You could be the ideal candidate on paper, but if your approach to work is vastly different to the culture that has been cultivated within the company, you might struggle to ever find your feet.
An example of this would be an individual who excels in a hierarchical structure being thrown into a company that prides itself on innovation. This lack of structure and emphasis on new ways of working might not encourage someone who prefers clear roles and responsibilities to do their best work.
This is why it is important to understand the company values before heading into an interview so that you will know if you are well-matched for the role. It will also help you to prepare answers to the following values-based interview questions to ensure you communicate your alignment effectively.
This all depends on the company culture and the role they are hiring for. If they are hiring for the head of a department, then innovation and leadership will be important values. When hiring for the shop floor, you’re more likely to be looking for teamwork and accountability. These are just some of the values that employers might be looking for:
Now that we better understand the importance of identifying values in the recruitment process, let’s look at some example questions you might face during the recruitment process and how to answer them effectively. Remember to adapt these answers to your own experience and make sure that you are honest about your values.
With these values in mind, let’s look at some example questions and how to formulate an effective answer.
If you are being asked this question, you can assume that this is for a leadership role and that you have expressed an interest in taking on leadership responsibilities. You now need to demonstrate that you know what makes a good leader. Think about effective leaders you have worked with in the past and what traits they have used in their approach to managing and leading.
“I believe that the mark of a good leader is trust. I don’t like to micromanage individuals as I believe this undermines trust and doesn’t allow people to do their best work.”
Being able to take responsibility for your actions is an important part of most companies. A culture built around accountability will be focused on personal development and growth. And one important aspect of being accountable for your actions is being able to own up when you miss the mark.
“Like anyone, I’m not a huge fan of negative feedback, but it’s something that I find helpful to enable me to grow and develop. When I receive negative feedback, I try not to take it personally and instead look for ways to improve so that the same thing doesn’t happen again.”
Companies that build their company culture around the concept of helping others will want to know that they are hiring compassionate individuals. Looking for opportunities to help others will therefore be an important trait for employers.
“I’m highly intuitive and can often tell when my colleagues are struggling. I recently worked alongside someone who was clearly struggling with their workload. After asking after their wellbeing, they revealed they were having trouble at home and it was impacting their work. I offered to finalise a project so they could focus on their home situation. I also encouraged them to speak to management and this enabled them to arrange paid leave to properly address their personal issues.”
This question is not about finding out who is likely to inform on their colleagues for bending the rules. It’s about finding individuals who value integrity enough to be able to raise this issue with a colleague if they are concerned about the greater good.
“Health and safety is obviously an important part of my line of work and I have a great deal of respect for the rules put in place to protect me and those around me. If I noticed a colleague breaking the rules and endangering those around them, I would first raise it with them. If they continued, I would have no issue escalating this to management as they aren’t only risking their own safety.”
Innovative thinking can appear in lots of different ways, and it doesn’t have to be in the workplace. People who are natural-born problem solvers are likely to find ways to solve issues in lots of different areas.
“On a recent camping trip I discovered a tear in my tent that was allowing water in. Rather than cut the trip short, I used a washing line and ground sheet to create an extra layer of protection over my tent and this kept the whole group warm and dry for the weekend.”
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