
Kicking off your hiring process with a 'vibe check' or 'culture fit' interview is a no-brainer. Not only does it set the right tone and streamlines the process, but it creates a positive candidate experience.
Companies are constantly seeking ways to streamline hiring processes while ensuring they select the best candidates. The 15-25 minute "vibe check" or "culture fit" interview — a short yet impactful conversation designed to assess whether a candidate aligns with a company’s values, work environment, and team dynamics is key to reducing turnover.
Here’s why this approach is gaining traction and why it might just be the future of hiring:
1. Efficient Use of Time for Both Parties
In traditional hiring processes, interviews can span hours across multiple stages, often leaving candidates and employers exhausted. A quick vibe check interview respects everyone’s time by focusing on core elements such as personality, communication style, and cultural alignment. Candidates can quickly gauge if the company feels like the right fit for them, while employers can assess whether the individual would thrive within their organisation.
2. Authenticity
Lengthy interviews can feel formal and rehearsed, making it difficult to truly connect with candidates. Shorter interviews encourage more genuine interactions, as there’s less pressure for candidates to "perform" and more opportunity to simply be themselves. This authenticity is crucial for assessing how someone might naturally integrate with the team.
3. Prioritising Cultural Fit Over Credentials
While skills and experience are essential, they’re often teachable.
Cultural fit, on the other hand, is much harder to develop post-hire. A quick vibe check allows hiring managers to prioritise alignment with the company’s mission, values, and work culture.
Employees who align with these elements tend to have higher job satisfaction and longer tenures, reducing turnover rates.
4. Reducing Hiring Bias
Traditional interviews, especially when overly long, can inadvertently amplify biases.
Hiring managers may start forming opinions based on irrelevant factors like how a candidate answers overly complex or situational questions. A shorter, focused interview minimizes these risks by honing in on key attributes that genuinely matter, such as enthusiasm, communication style, and shared values.
5. Encouraging Inclusive Hiring
Quick, informal vibe checks can make the hiring process less intimidating, particularly for candidates who may not thrive in traditional interview settings. This approach can open doors to a more diverse pool of talent, including neurodiverse individuals or those from non-traditional career paths who might excel in less rigid interview formats.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating 15-25 minute vibe check interviews into your hiring process isn’t about replacing traditional methods altogether — it’s about enhancing them.
By prioritising cultural fit early on, you can build stronger teams, reduce turnover, and create a more efficient, enjoyable hiring experience for everyone involved.