10+ Effective Ways to Answer Cultural Fit Interview Questions

Co-authored by Devin Jones and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

You applied for a job and you landed an interview—nice work! While most interviewers will question your technical skills and previous experience, they may also throw in a few questions about how you’d fit in with the company culture. Questions like these might compare your values, goals, and attitude to the company as a whole to see if you’d be the right person for the position. With a little preparation and a few tips, you can nail your interview and (hopefully!) get the job.

Method 1

Method 1 of 11:
Review the company website.

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Spend some time before your interview learning about the company. You can usually find out a lot by visiting the company’s “About” page. You can see if they value hard work, employee relationships, and client connections by reading their mission statement.^{[1]
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- You can also try looking the company up on review sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and GlassDoor. Read the reviews from old employees to figure out what the company values the most.

Method 2

Method 2 of 11:
Ask current employees about the company culture.

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You can ask your interviewer or recruiter for the opportunity to do so. Talk to the current employees about their relationship with their bosses, what their daily work schedule is like, and what kinds of things might be difficult for you. You could say:^{[2]
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- “What’s the opportunity for growth like here?”
- “How is your work/life balance?”
- “Have you had many problems with upper management?”
- "What do you like best about working here?"^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Devin Jones
  Career Coach
  Expert Interview. 5 April 2019.}
- "What's the most challenging part of this job?"^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Devin Jones
  Career Coach
  Expert Interview. 5 April 2019.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 11:
Talk about why you chose this company.

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Your interviewers may ask you why you chose them over the competition. Talk about things like their client relations, their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, their emphasis on social responsibility, or anything that drew you into that specific job posting.^{[5]
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Research source} You might also talk about how working for that company will help you meet your goals, like moving into a certain field or focusing on a specific industry.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Devin Jones
Career Coach
Expert Interview. 5 April 2019.}
- You could say something like, “When I checked out your website, it seemed like you really emphasize your goal to be completely emissions free by 2024. That aligns with my own personal goals of reducing my carbon footprint and switching over to green energy.”
- Or, “All the employee reviews for your company were very positive. It seems like your company really values their employee’s time and aims to keep people working here long-term.”

Method 4

Method 4 of 11:
Emphasize what you have to offer.

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Talk about how your skills and experiences line up with the company. If you value your self-starting abilities, you could discuss how you like the company’s hands-off management style. If the company provides a lot of training opportunities, talk about your ability to learn quickly and adapt to change. For example:^{[7]
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- “I love taking charge of my own projects and delivering finished materials. I work well on my own, and I really value this company’s trust in its employees.”
- “I’m always working on improving my skills within the field. I noticed that you have a lot of opportunities for advancement, and I’m willing to work on improving myself in my offtime.”

Method 5

Method 5 of 11:
Discuss challenges you’ve overcome.

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Talk about how you used your company resources to do so. Emphasize how you worked together with your coworkers to overcome a challenge to show that you’d be a good fit for this company. Pick something that shows off your skills as a worker, like:^{[8]
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- “In my last position, one of my team members left her job unexpectedly. My manager asked me to take over some of her duties, including leading the team and delegating responsibilities. Using my previous leadership skills, I was able to push the project forward and encourage the rest of the team, which led to a successful project that we turned in on time.”

Method 6

Method 6 of 11:
Explain why you’re leaving your previous job.

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This will help your interviewers figure out if you’re the right fit. If you left the job because it was too high-pressure, you may fit in with a more laid-back company culture. Talk about what your previous job was lacking that this company has, but be careful not to bash or criticize your previous employer.^{[9]
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- For example: “After several years in my last position, I am looking for a company where I can contribute more and grow in a team-oriented environment.”
- “I didn't have room to grow with my previous employer.”

Method 7

Method 7 of 11:
Talk about what teamwork means to you.

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Working with a team can mean different things to different people. If the company’s culture is team-based, your interviewer may ask what being on a team means to you and if you have experience working with other people. Try to answer directly about how you’d collaborate with others, like:^{[10]
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- “To me, teamwork means working together toward a common goal while breaking down the task into individual pieces. In my last position, all of my team members had their own tasks, but we had a weekly check-in meeting to ask questions and make sure we were all on the right track.”

Method 8

Method 8 of 11:
Touch on what you do in your free time.

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Employers like to hire well-rounded people. If your interviewer asks about your hobbies, try to answer honestly and talk about the things you do for fun. Keep it professional, and try to talk about something that doesn’t relate to your job. For example:^{[11]
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- “I have 2 small children, so most of my free time is spent with them. My husband and I are outdoorsy people, so we like to take them on hikes and walks around the neighborhood whenever we can.”
- “I love rock climbing, and I’ve been doing it for about 2 years now. I usually set aside a few hours every weekend to hit the indoor climbing gym, and me and my buddies go out once a month to climb natural rocks in the area.”

Method 9

Method 9 of 11:
Talk about the people you might not get along with.

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Your interviewers can tell if you’ll be a good fit with this question. If the company culture is fast-paced with a lot of outspoken people, you may want to talk about slow-moving, unmotivated personalities. If the company culture is employee-relationship oriented, talk about workers who don’t make an effort with their coworkers.^{[12]
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- “I tend to butt heads with people who have a more flexible perception of deadlines and want all their work to be double and triple checked before moving forward. I like to work quickly and without a lot of break time.”
- “I might not get along with people who micromanage what I do on a daily basis. I like to take charge of my own day, and I appreciate the trust that comes with letting me do my own thing.”

Method 10

Method 10 of 11:
Describe your ideal work day.

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Make sure that your dream work day lines up with the company. If it’s a remote job, talk about how you’d manage your time and meet daily deadlines. If it’s a fast-paced, team-oriented job, touch on how you can work quickly and collaborate with others. For example:^{[13]
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- “During my ideal workday, I’d probably write down all my tasks on a to-do list at the beginning. Ideally, I’d be able to finish half of the list before lunch, then check in with my coworkers via Slack. I’d finish up the rest of my duties by the end of the day and send a daily recap email to my supervisor.”

Method 11

Method 11 of 11:
Ask your own questions.

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Show that you’ve put some thought into the company culture. You can ask questions about current employees, employee conflict, and the company as a whole to get a read on your potential employer. Use the questions to show that you’ve done your own research on the company.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Devin Jones
Career Coach
Expert Interview. 5 April 2019.} For example:^{[15]
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- “Is there much employee conflict? How is that usually resolved?”
- “What piece of advice would you give a new employee?”
- “What has been this company’s most fulfilling project so far?”

Community Q&A
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Question

What questions should you ask at the end of an interview?

Devin Jones
Career Coach
Devin Jones is the creator of “The Soul Career," an online career incubator for women. She is certified in the CliftonStrengths assessment and works with women to clarify their purpose and create meaningful careers. Devin received her BA from Stanford University in 2013.

Devin Jones

Career Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Ask questions related to the company culture so the employer knows you've thought about what it would be like to work there. You might ask, "Are there normally conflicts between employees?" "How are conflicts resolved?" or "What advice would you give to a new employee?"
Question

How do you answer a question like, "Why do you want this job?"

Devin Jones
Career Coach
Devin Jones is the creator of “The Soul Career," an online career incubator for women. She is certified in the CliftonStrengths assessment and works with women to clarify their purpose and create meaningful careers. Devin received her BA from Stanford University in 2013.

Devin Jones

Career Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Answer it authentically—what do you see in their company you like? What kind of trajectory or projects are they working on that you think are really significant? What do you hope to learn and what do you hope to contribute?
Question

When someone says, "Tell me about yourself," how should I answer?

Devin Jones
Career Coach
Devin Jones is the creator of “The Soul Career," an online career incubator for women. She is certified in the CliftonStrengths assessment and works with women to clarify their purpose and create meaningful careers. Devin received her BA from Stanford University in 2013.

Devin Jones

Career Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Describe something from your past, present, and future. For instance, you might mention where you went to college, what work you're currently doing, and what you'd like to move into. That way, they'll know a little bit about your history, what you're currently bringing to the table, and what your vision is for the future.