5 Reasons To Work At A Company With The Right Cultural Fit

We’ve seen the term ‘cultural fit’ used with growing frequency in reference to recruitment and job hunting. But why exactly is it important, and how does it affect your job satisfaction and career growth prospects? Simply put, cultural fit, in this context, refers to the compatibility of values and beliefs between the employee and the organization.

For example, someone who loves meat would find it incredibly difficult to align their values with PETA or any organization that advocates veganism. Another example of bad cultural fit would be that of a mother with young kids working in an organization where late nights and working weekends are the norm.

Why does corporate culture matter?

When we talk about cultural fit, we also have to understand what ‘culture’ means in this regard. Corporate culture, or organizational culture, is a set of shared assumptions, values, principles, beliefs, and norms that guide the behavior, actions, and decisions of the people within an organization.

Corporate culture is built over time, guided by the organization’s leaders and supported, reinforced, and expanded with the help of employees and other stakeholders.

You may also think of corporate culture as the company’s unique personality and character that either attract or repel potential employees and clients.

So why does corporate culture matter? A positive workplace culture is associated with a strong brand identity, lower employee turnover, higher employee engagement, and increased productivity, among other factors that contribute to an organization’s success.

Why does culture matter in business?

A company’s culture is important because it provides direction for the company through its mission, vision, and goals, and cultivates the atmosphere in which the company’s stakeholders work to reach its objectives.

It has a powerful influence on a company’s success. Because company culture primarily affects how employees work together and serve their customers, it can impact the way employees operate the business and how internal and external stakeholders interact and communicate with each other.

A strong, positive corporate culture will help the company increase sales and revenue, reach its targets, and fulfill its mission by nurturing employees and giving them the resources, opportunities, and support they need to work at their full potential.

A great company culture also has an effect on recruiting: it can attract qualified and talented people. It can also inspire employees to be more productive, innovative, and creative in the way they find solutions to problems and challenges at work.

So, why does culture matter in business? It matters because it can make or break a company and determine whether it succeeds or fails.

Cultural fit

You’ve gotten a job with a good salary and work in line with your interests and qualifications. But then you notice differences between your values and those of your employer’s.

You might be tempted to shrug off these differences as a factor of the learning curve or for the paycheck, but unless you are flexible enough to adapt, consider that you can’t fit a square peg into a round hole. Some differences are just too difficult to overcome.

In order to avoid such problems in an organization, human resource specialists consider cultural fit in addition to functional fit when evaluating job applicants.Functional fit refers to the applicant’s qualifications, hard skills, and experience – the information that can be found on a CV. Cultural fit is about soft skills, attitude, and personal goals - information that comes from an interview. It also refers to how well the applicant will be able to fit in the organization and how it does things, conducts its business, and interacts with stakeholders and customers.

Cultural fit is so important for an organization that some companies will hire candidates with fewer or less impressive skills and qualifications in favor of those with good cultural fit, because while an employee’s skills gap can be filled by training, a bad cultural fit can lead to problems such as tardiness and absences, poor performance, and job dissatisfaction.

According to Inc.com, studies show that employees who demonstrate a good cultural fit with the organization not only experience greater job satisfaction, they are also more likely to perform better – therefore increasing productivity – and stay with the company longer – thus cutting costs related to employee replacement.

Here are five ways cultural fit impacts your career development:

1. Motivation

Imagine working for a company that values profits above everything, and doesn’t give a second thought to the consequences of its operations on the environment or society. You, on the other hand, find this lack of social responsibility contrary to your personal values. You feel a growing discontent and heightening demotivation as you force yourself to go through the daily motions at work.

Also read: Where Does Work-Life Balance Rank in Values That Matter to Filipinos?

2. Productivity

If you don’t share mutual values or beliefs with the organization, chances are you won’t have much in common with most of your colleagues either. This disconnect could eventually make you indifferent to your job. You’ll find it difficult to find enjoyment in your daily tasks, which could cause your productivity to decline.

3. Inspiration

We feel most inspired at work when we can relate to the company’s vision and goals, and particularly when those same goals are aligned with our own values. This is what creates synergy in the workplace. The magical power of collaboration between like-minded individuals sparks outcomes that would not be achievable by those individuals on their own.

4. Camaraderie

Our interactions with our colleagues can enhance our happiness at work, or make us absolutely miserable. If you find that the majority of your co-workers love partying away the weekends but you don’t, you’re not going to have much fun at work. On the other hand, if you’re the social butterfly but everyone else is an introvert, you’re going to feel like the odd one out. This is because camaraderie with colleagues is an important element of one’s job satisfaction.

5. Growth

If you enjoy what you do, love the working environment of your workplace and your colleagues,  believe in your company’s vision and mission, and share its values, you’ll perform well at work and find it easier to scale the corporate ladder. Being in sync with your bosses and peers will translate into fewer obstacles for your career growth.

As tempting as a job offer might be, it’s worth your while to evaluate your degree of cultural fit with the organization before you accept the offer. You can do this by conducting your own research on sites such as JobStreet Company Reviews, even before applying for a job.

So before you accept a job offer, ask yourself again, why does corporate culture matter, and how does cultural fit impact your career growth and development? There are more things to consider when taking a job than just the compensation. You also have to think about your future, your goals and dreams.

Whether or not you stay in one company long enough to climb the corporate ladder there and grow  your career, do your research first on the company culture, and see whether  your own personal values, mission, and vision align with the organization’s.

Ideally, you should aim to stay at any job for at least a couple of years before making a change, for the sake of your career development. So don’t be too hasty in making a decision. Focus on the big picture and your career goals.

Ready to find a company with the right cultural fit? #LetsGetToWork! Update your JobStreet profile then search for jobs.

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