Welcome to the 304th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I’m exposing the truth about “cultural fit”. How this seemingly innocent phrase disproportionately affects underrepresented groups in hiring. Let’s stop blaming cultural fit: the truth about systemic bias in HR.
Listen to the episode
If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.
In today’s show on Stop Blaming “Cultural Fit”: The Truth About Systemic Bias in HR
- 00:59 – Why cultural fit hurts: how this vague term masks bias and blocks opportunities.
- 02:00 – A definition of cultural fit: what it’s supposed to mean versus what it actually means in practice.
- 02:50 – A piece of eye-opening research on cultural matching.
- 04:38 – How likability trumps competence and hinders diversity when it comes to hiring in some organisations.
- 09:47 – Ways to enact mindset shifts organisations can make to improve their current hiring process and challenge this overused phrase.
Quotes on Stop Blaming “Cultural Fit”: The Truth About Systemic Bias in HR
- What if the reason you didn’t get a job wasn’t your skills or experience, but something far more insidious?
- Hiring is more than just a process of skill sorting. It is also a process of cultural matching between candidates, evaluators, and firms.
- Concerns about shared culture were highly salient to employers and often outweighed concerns about absolute productivity or skills for the role.
- Cultural fit can simply mean ‘we get along.’ But it becomes a problem when your opinion of an applicant becomes a deciding factor.
- Interestingly, going to the pub always comes up in global majority leadership programs that I run and how this causes internal values conflict.
Resources for Stop Blaming “Cultural Fit”: The Truth About Systemic Bias in HR
- Read the BBC Work-Life article: What Does Being a Cultural Fit Actually Mean?
- Read the Sage Journals article: Hiring as Cultural Matching: The Case of Elite Professional Service Firms
- Episode #267: How to Handle Gatekeepers
- Episode #95: Shaking up your Recruitment Process
- Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
- Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
- Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe
Work with me
Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC
One-hour focused Sessions £250 1-2-1
Power Hour Sessions for Organisations
Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489
Check out my coaching FAQs or learn more about how 1:1 coaching can support your wellbeing.
Subscribe to the podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.
If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review?
Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.
