A shoe must fit the foot. A bolt must fit the nut. And in today's climate, new hires have to fit the organization.

Although companies have begun hiring again, there's a change in what they're looking for.

Their increased focus on costs means they're not willing to wait for new employees to learn their culture and gradually fit in. They have to hit the ground running.

Fit reduces waste

Fit means more than a certain set of skills.

If the new hire fits in, with the best blend of skills and character, there's less likelihood of wasted initiatives or conflict with colleagues.

Organizations can't afford to invest months, molding upper-level managers in particular until they fit. They see issues like motivation, management style, leadership, values, and ethics as crucial.

Fit and hiring

We ran into this issue when we designed the questionnaires for our new MY360 Degree Feedback product. It is designed to help capable unemployed people and recruiters find each other through a 360-degree feedback report.

So we included "fit"-type statements like these, inviting responders to mark their agreement or disagreement:

"Displays a high level of self-awareness regarding her/his strengths and areas for improvement"

"Acts ethically and responsibly, even in situations that are ambiguous"

"Takes responsibility for her/his own reactions, rather than blaming others"

360-degree feedback based on such questions gives employers an immediate impression of whether the applicant is likely to fit their culture.

This is not an issue of judgement: right or wrong, good or bad, skilful or not. It is simply about being suitable for a particular organization.

Re-examine your 360-degree feedback questionnaire

Times are changing.

Because fit is closely linked to success within your corporate culture, now is the time to re-examine your 360-degree feedback.

Check whether it features questions about the qualities, not just the skills, most needed for your organization's success.

(P.S. If you're a Panoramic Feedback user, look into our library of sample questionnaires for many more "fit"-related questions.)