The hiring process is not easy and just when you think you’ve found the right candidate, you meet them in person and it’s a disaster. They don’t seem to understand your company culture and the entire interview is an awkward mess. Could this have been avoided or is it just part of the hiring process? In most cases, you can’t truly know a candidate until you’ve met them in person, and even phone interviews can be deceiving. You can’t really know someone until you meet them and see their mannerisms, hear their first-hand knowledge, and get feedback from the rest of the team.

But they Look Great on Paper!
Some candidates will have all the qualifications and then some but won’t be a smart choice for your organization for a variety of reasons. If your teams are laid-back, prank playing, work hard, play hard kind of people, someone who is a stickler for rules and protocol may not fit in with their spirited antics. It can go the other way too; if you have someone who talks a lot, or a candidate who seems to need a lot of attention, your quiet and private team members may not appreciate this new addition. When possible, have every team member meet the potential candidate and have some questions ready for the asking. Here are some to get them started:

1. What is your work ethic? Work hard, play hard. Work is an extension of your family. All work, no play. Or work as little as possible to get the job done.
2. What is your preferred work environment? No noise. Headphones all the way. Thrive on noise everywhere. Or just ignore everyone no matter what.
3. Why did you leave your last job? Annoying coworkers. Too much work. Not enough of a challenge. Couldn’t please the team.
4. Are you a team player? Work well with others. Hate team work. Do all the work. Do none of the work unless forced to.

These seem like simple questions but remind the team and yourself to let the candidate expound on their answers. If they answer in a joking manner, wait for them to clarify and if they don’t, it is safe to assume they meant their first answer. This can give you a quick overview of how they will work within the organization and the team.

Go with your Instincts!
The candidate is putting on their best face so if they come up short, it is a safe bet to say they are not qualified for the position. If they can’t seem to mesh with the team members in the interview, they probably won’t have much more success in the actual job. Yes, there are nerves involved with the interview process but they should have the necessary social skills to make small talk with your team and you, the interviewer. Their ability to communicate and observe your culture from the interview will speak volumes for their overall office behavior.