How to Ace the Company Culture Interview
There’s more to being an engineer than technical expertise. That’s why organizations like Turo interview candidates about what they would add to the company’s culture in addition to programming know-how. The culture interview is our opportunity to identify candidates who strengthen teams by bringing out the best in everyone around them. So what’s the best way for you to approach the interview? Illustrating the positive contributions you bring to a team takes some nuance, so I’ve gathered 6 ideas that will keep you on the right track.
1. Make a wish list
Take time to imagine your dream job and make a prioritized list of features you’re hoping for in your next position. Knowing what you’re after is the key not only to a good interview, but to finding a job you love. I know this isn’t exactly an Earth-shattering revelation, but so often we don’t take a deep breath and ask ourselves what we’re really looking for in our career. Once you have a clear vision for your dream job and you find relevant open positions, answering questions about why you’re interested is easy. Most importantly, your onsite is now a golden opportunity to quiz interviewers on how the organization stacks up to your wish list.
2. Approach interview questions like software features
Every interviewer is essentially trying to answer the question “Will this person succeed as an engineer on our team?” So treat any interview (whether it’s technical or otherwise) like a project you’re working on for the company. Just like writing a bunch of code isn’t the first step of a software feature, don’t start a response in a culture interview by rambling on, hoping you’ll bump into a straightforward answer. Ask clarifying questions if you don’t understand, proceed methodically, walk the interviewer through your thought process, and try to be both organized and thorough. Once you’ve replied, you can even ask “Did that answer your question?” if you’re not sure. You wouldn’t deploy code without testing it, so don’t give a response without being sure it met the criteria.
3. Stay comfy
You’ve succeeded if your interviewers leave the room thinking “I’d love to work on a project, go for lunch, or fix a bug with this person.” So relax and try to connect with your future colleagues in the way the feels most comfortable for you. If you’d like to work on a team that shoots the breeze and shares a laugh, try to bring a little of that to the interview. When you’re at ease, the person across the table will be too.
4. Always ask more questions
You’ve probably heard this twenty three and a half times, but people never ask enough questions. I’m still shocked by how many people only have one or two questions. For real? You’re going to spend more of your daylight hours with our team than your friends and family and you don’t need any more information? Asking anything is better than nothing, especially if it’s coming from a place of curiosity about the position. Just think about what’s on your wish list (see tip number 1) and ask whatever will help you determine if this company and position will be a welcoming, challenging, rewarding place to build something special.
5. Give specific examples
Phrases like “working together is important to me” sound hollow unless you substantiate your claim. Try saying “Working together is important to me. Recently my colleague introduced a bug right before they went on vacation, and I volunteered to fix it. I hope my next team supports each other in the same way.” The former statement sounds like someone saying what they think the interviewer wants to hear and the latter comes across as proof that they support teammates. So make sure to prepare a few quick stories that cast the best light on your work style before coming to your onsite.
6. Ooze positivity
Even when interviewers ask about your weaknesses or why you left a company, frame your response in upside. You should address weaknesses, but always add that you’re working to improve them and you’ve seen positive results. Even when talking about a job you just quit, when it can be oh so tempting to slather the interviewer with gruesome gossip from the trenches, resist the urge. Take the high road and transition the conversation to positives you’re looking for in your next position. No company wants to hire someone who’s going to turn around and gossip about their team. Besides, it’s easy to come off as whiny when sliming a previous employer.
So there you have it. If you forget everything else, just remember to take a deep breath and enjoy exploring whether or not you’d thrive in the position. There’s a job out there that you’ll genuinely love. You just have to find out if this is it.
