"What most people really mean when they say someone is a good fit culturally is that he or she is someone they’d like to have a beer with."
This is never how the companies I've been at treated culture fit interviews. Maybe I've only been at good companies, but typically we're only screening for dealbreakers and red flags, and the "culture fit" interview is little more than a chance to relax the interviewee between grueling tech interviews and have a low-pressure chance to sell them on the company; if they happen to offer up an offensive statement or shoot themselves in the foot, then that's on them.
The only situations where I've seen people cut based on culture fit questions, they've done something really odd. Comment on an interviewer's looks. Talk unreasonable shit about current company coworkers or policies, or spill confidential info. Indicate unwillingness to work with people of certain political persuasions. Outright racism or sexism. So on.
"Like to have a beer with" is a terrible hiring criteria, even if it might be useful when playing both internal and external politics. But "I'd never be willing to tolerate this personality in everyday work interactions" is a very valid reason to cut someone from consideration, and that should be considered in every interview.
Almost every toxic coworker I've come in contact with worked on a team that specifically did tech-only interviews, and didn't take culture into account. YMMV...
This is never how the companies I've been at treated culture fit interviews. Maybe I've only been at good companies, but typically we're only screening for dealbreakers and red flags, and the "culture fit" interview is little more than a chance to relax the interviewee between grueling tech interviews and have a low-pressure chance to sell them on the company; if they happen to offer up an offensive statement or shoot themselves in the foot, then that's on them.
The only situations where I've seen people cut based on culture fit questions, they've done something really odd. Comment on an interviewer's looks. Talk unreasonable shit about current company coworkers or policies, or spill confidential info. Indicate unwillingness to work with people of certain political persuasions. Outright racism or sexism. So on.
"Like to have a beer with" is a terrible hiring criteria, even if it might be useful when playing both internal and external politics. But "I'd never be willing to tolerate this personality in everyday work interactions" is a very valid reason to cut someone from consideration, and that should be considered in every interview.
Almost every toxic coworker I've come in contact with worked on a team that specifically did tech-only interviews, and didn't take culture into account. YMMV...