Leadership In Action: In Focus—Aquiring Talent—The Value of Hiring for Team Fit

In Focus/Acquiring Talent: The Value of Hiring for Team Fit

David Creelman and Robert B. Kaiser

When assessing job candidates, hiring managers are often analytical in matching the candidate to the requirements of the job. These managers also tend to have a strong intuitive sense of what sort of person will best fit the organization. However, when it comes to matching candidates to a specific existing team for which they are being considered, hiring managers generally treat this as something of an afterthought; an analytical approach to getting team fit right is rare. But when success hinges on the tight integration of the new hire with an existing group, the ability to assess team fit in a disciplined way is invaluable.

Team fit is more important ...