What is "Corporate Fit"?

What is corporate fit?

Is fit aligned with the organization as a whole or the department where the job description resides or the perceived profile of the job description?

Surprisingly, there is not a clear distinction for many companies.  For a buzz word that is mentioned so often, why is there not enough clarity? 

“We’ll know the right person when we meet them?”  Really?  I am not sure about that.  Decision by committee usually means it is the best generalist candidate but maybe not exceptional in any one key or core areas.  If you leave the decision to the hiring manager?, well then they might be looking out for their own best interests as oppose to that of the company.

Are companies prepared to hire skills that they don't currently possess? or does fitting in with the employees in the lunch room or some other area of much importance?  It sounds like a smug question, but unfortunately it is a valid question.

“Birds of a feather, flock together”  trumps unique skills more often than we would all like to believe.

When companies select their desired attributes, usually after all the common desired values such as trust, business ethics and honesty, the following tend to be the most common desired competencies for clients:

-Championing Change

-Problem Solving

-Innovation

-Driving For Results

-Business Acumen

-Influencing Skills

-Relationship building

-Presentation

Some companies might select a priority ranking such as this, and then convince themselves that this is the formula that has brought them success and that it should be the DNA for the company moving forward. 

Make sure to ask yourself if a blanket ranking like that is the best for the business.

Perhaps thinking differently and getting more focused within a couple of key areas instead of seeking generalized employee profiles will allow for the delivery of greater results for the company. Sometimes less is more and sometimes unique also provides surprising performance.

Farewell,

Mike