Hiring for "cultural fit" means "let our bias roam free".
It makes me wonder why I bothered learning how to write software, if employers are going to reject me for being a "bad cultural fit". If you're different in any way, that means you don't get a job?
Just a rumination: is it possible that the author's disconcerting assertions are published out of an institution where they are letting their own "biases roam free"? Perhaps, if she were to declare any other conclusion, she may be a "bad cultural fit" there?
I'm guessing/hoping you learned to write software because you like it and the ability to solve interesting problems. As such, you have a lot more options for employment than consultants, investment bankers, and lawyers.
My employment options aren't as great as you say, because:
1. There are lots of languages, frameworks, and tools. For each job interview, I'm expected to already be an expert in whichever ones they are using.
2. I'm already at the point where age discrimination starts to kick in. When I go on an interview and everyone there is either 10 years younger or on an H1-b visa, then there isn't much chance of me getting hired.
Everywhere I've worked and to my knowledge everywhere I've interviewed has considered culture fit. I don't think it's always as pernicious as you're describing. When done right, hiring for culture fit means some combination of "don't hire people who aren't excited to work here" and "don't hire assholes, no matter how well they code." Both of those are important filters, and I don't think either of them is unfair to the applicant.
Unfortunately I've also seen teams where it meant "don't hire anyone who isn't a workaholic," and teams where it meant something like "don't hire anyone who is going to wreck the hard-partying vibe of the workplace." (I've never seen anything nearly as crazy as "don't hire Yankees fans.") It sucks to get rejected for a job because the current team all hangs out and they don't think you'd dig the vibe. It would also probably suck to get hired into a team that's also a close-knit social group that you aren't particularly interested in joining. I think the takeaway is that if you get rejected for a team for being a bad cultural fit you've probably dodged a bullet anyway. Go find a job with a team that knows how to make people of all ages and stripes feel welcome.
EDIT: I just remembered my favorite "culture fit" interview question of all time. I was head of engineering at a startup that was interviewing around with potential acquirers. I was talking to a senior engineer at one of the companies. He ran me through a couple simple warm-up questions and then hit me with the big one: "If we acquire you, are you likely to up and quit in two months?" I stuttered for about two minutes.
It was a great question! In hindsight, I almost certainly would have. We both dodged a bullet there!
That sounds to me like what they actually want are people who will put a lot into their work and strive hard to do well.
Sounds to me like their interview process and interviewers suck so badly that the only way they can tell if that's the case is if the candidate is excited, and they will be rejecting every candidate who would do want they want because, for example, they're a conscientious professional. Because ultimately, who gives a damn if someone is "excited" to work there? Surely what should matter most to the company is how good a job they're going to do.
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[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 21.4 ms ] threadIt makes me wonder why I bothered learning how to write software, if employers are going to reject me for being a "bad cultural fit". If you're different in any way, that means you don't get a job?
I'm guessing/hoping you learned to write software because you like it and the ability to solve interesting problems. As such, you have a lot more options for employment than consultants, investment bankers, and lawyers.
1. There are lots of languages, frameworks, and tools. For each job interview, I'm expected to already be an expert in whichever ones they are using.
2. I'm already at the point where age discrimination starts to kick in. When I go on an interview and everyone there is either 10 years younger or on an H1-b visa, then there isn't much chance of me getting hired.
Unfortunately I've also seen teams where it meant "don't hire anyone who isn't a workaholic," and teams where it meant something like "don't hire anyone who is going to wreck the hard-partying vibe of the workplace." (I've never seen anything nearly as crazy as "don't hire Yankees fans.") It sucks to get rejected for a job because the current team all hangs out and they don't think you'd dig the vibe. It would also probably suck to get hired into a team that's also a close-knit social group that you aren't particularly interested in joining. I think the takeaway is that if you get rejected for a team for being a bad cultural fit you've probably dodged a bullet anyway. Go find a job with a team that knows how to make people of all ages and stripes feel welcome.
EDIT: I just remembered my favorite "culture fit" interview question of all time. I was head of engineering at a startup that was interviewing around with potential acquirers. I was talking to a senior engineer at one of the companies. He ran me through a couple simple warm-up questions and then hit me with the big one: "If we acquire you, are you likely to up and quit in two months?" I stuttered for about two minutes.
It was a great question! In hindsight, I almost certainly would have. We both dodged a bullet there!
That sounds to me like what they actually want are people who will put a lot into their work and strive hard to do well.
Sounds to me like their interview process and interviewers suck so badly that the only way they can tell if that's the case is if the candidate is excited, and they will be rejecting every candidate who would do want they want because, for example, they're a conscientious professional. Because ultimately, who gives a damn if someone is "excited" to work there? Surely what should matter most to the company is how good a job they're going to do.