Building a Purpose-Driven Team: Recruiting Based on Company Purpose and Values

Recruiting based on company purpose and values is important because it helps to ensure that new employees are a good fit for the company and its culture. Companies should clearly communicates their purpose and values and look for candidates who share them.

As a result, the company is more likely to find employees who are motivated, engaged and committed to the company’s mission and goals. This can help to create a more positive and cohesive company culture, leading to increased employee engagement and satisfaction. All of these benefits will result is a positive impact on the success of the business.

What are company purpose and values?

The purpose of a company is its reason for being. It’s the mission that defines why the organisation exists and what it hopes to achieve. Company purpose should be clear, inspiring and guide every decision the organisation makes.

Company values are the guiding principles that an organisation lives by. They are the beliefs and philosophies that shape the culture and behaviours of the company. Some common company values might include integrity, transparency, innovation, teamwork and customer focus.

The importance of recruiting based on company purpose and values.

When building a successful organisation, it’s essential to recruit the right employees. However, it’s not just about finding employees with the right skills and experience. it’s also crucial to ensure they align with the company purpose and values. Recruiting based on company purpose and values has many advantages. Some of these are discussed briefly below:

Creates a strong company culture:

When employees share the same company purpose and values, it creates a strong sense of unity and belonging and helps to establish a positive culture. Here, employees feel valued, respected and motivated to work together to achieve the company’s goals. This can improve morale and create a more supportive and enjoyable work environment.

Better alignment of goals and priorities:

Recruiting based on company purpose and values is a way to ensure alignment of goals and priorities between the company and its employees. It helps to create a strong, cohesive culture that drives business success. When everyone is working towards the same goals and priorities, it creates a sense of unity and direction. This helps the organisation to achieve its long-term objectives.

Increases employee engagement:

Recruiting employees who are passionate about company purpose and values helps to boost employee engagement. Engaged employees are more productive, more innovative and more likely to stay with the company long-term. They are also more likely to be loyal ambassadors for the company, promoting it to others and helping to attract top talent.

Improves the hiring process.

When recruitment is based on company purpose and values, it can streamline the hiring process. It enables the quick identification of candidates who are a good fit for the organisation. This can save time and resources and ensure that the company is only considering candidates who are likely to succeed in the role and contribute to the company’s overall success.

Improves customer service:

When employees share the company purpose and values, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated, leading to better customer service. They also better understand the needs and expectations of the target audience. This enables them to deliver a more personalised and meaningful customer experience.

Improves retention:

Employees who share the company purpose and values are more likely to stay with the organisation long-term. When employees feel like they are part of a community that is working towards a shared goal, they are more likely to feel satisfied with their job and less likely to leave for another opportunity.

Increases engagement and motivation:

Employees who share the company purpose and values are likely to be more motivated and engaged in their work. This leads to greater productivity, innovation and commitment to the company’s long-term success. Engaged employees are more likely to go above and beyond their job responsibilities.

How to recruit based on company purpose and values.

Recruiting based on company purpose and values helps to streamline the hiring process by quickly identifying candidates who are a good fit for the organisation. It also helps to avoid mismatches between the organisation’s culture and the employee’s work style. As a result, it saves time, resources and ensures that the company only considers candidates who are likely to succeed in the role and contribute to the company’s overall success. The following are some ways to recruit based on company purpose and values:

 1. Define the company purpose and values

The first step to recruiting based on company purpose and values is to clearly define what they are. Make sure that they are well-articulated and align with the business strategy. This will help to ensure that the organisation attracts candidates who share the company purpose and vision and will contribute to the success of the organisation.

2.  Include company purpose and values in job descriptions:

Including the company purpose and values in job descriptions is an important step in attracting candidates who align with the organisation’s mission and culture. Here are some strategies for including them in job descriptions:

• Clearly state the company’s mission: Begin the job description by stating the company’s mission and purpose. This will help candidates understand what the company does and why it exists.
• Identify the core values: Identify the company’s core values and include them in the job description. This will help candidates understand the principles that guide the organisation and whether their own values align with those of the company.
• Describe the role: After introducing the company purpose and values, describe the specific role and responsibilities that the candidate will be expected to fulfil. This will help candidates understand how they can contribute to the company’s mission and values.
• Highlight company culture: Describe the company culture and work environment to give candidates a better understanding of what it’s like to work at the organisation. For example, describing the company as a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages innovation and risk-taking can help to attract candidates who value those traits.
• Use inclusive language: Use inclusive language in the job description to attract a diverse range of candidates. This can include avoiding gendered language and including statements that emphasise the company’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

3.  Evaluate candidates based on company purpose and values:

Evaluating candidates based on their alignment with the company purpose and values is essential to building a cohesive and successful team. Hiring employees who share the organisation’s vision and goals can create a cohesive culture that drives business success.

During the interview process, make sure to ask questions that will help evaluate a candidate’s alignment with the company purpose and values. Use the following strategies to evaluate candidates:

• Ask behavioural-based questions: Behavioural-based interview questions enable an assessment of how candidates have demonstrated the company purpose and values in their past experiences. For example, ask a candidate to describe a time when they had to make a decision that aligned with the company purpose and values.
• Use situational questions: Situational interview questions enable an evaluation of how candidates might respond in hypothetical scenarios that align with company purpose and values. For example, ask a candidate how they would handle a situation that requires them to balance customer service with ethical considerations.
• Look for cultural fit: Assessing whether a candidate is a good cultural fit for the organisation is an important part of evaluating their alignment with the company purpose and values. This can involve evaluating a candidate’s communication style, personality and work style.
• Consider their career goals: Evaluating a candidate’s career goals can give an insight into whether they are a good fit for the organisation. Aligning with company purpose and values makes candidates more likely to commit to the organisation and stay for the long term.
• Use assessments: Using assessments, such as personality tests, can help evaluate whether a candidate’s values and beliefs align with the company purpose and values.

4.  Communicate purpose and values throughout the hiring process.

Communicating the company purpose and values throughout the hiring process is essential to attract and retain top talent. In addition, it ensures new hires align with the organisation’s vision and goals. This can help build a strong company culture, increase employee engagement and ultimately drive business success.

The following are some of the ways company purpose and values can be communicated during the hiring process:

• In job descriptions: Make sure to include the company purpose and values in the job description to attract candidates who share similar values and beliefs.
• In the application process: Questions that assess a candidate’s alignment with the company purpose and values should be included in the application process. For example, ask candidates to describe how they have demonstrated the company’s core values in their previous work experience.
• During interviews: Ask open-ended questions that allow candidates to speak about their own values and beliefs and how they align with the company’s mission and purpose. This can help evaluate whether the candidate is a good fit for the company culture.
• In employee handbooks and onboarding materials: Make sure to include the company purpose and values in the employee handbook and onboarding materials. This can help new employees understand the company’s culture and mission and how they can contribute to achieving the company’s goals.
• Through employee testimonials: Ask current employees to share their personal experiences and how they relate to the company purpose and values. To give candidates a better understanding of the company culture, feature this information on the company website, social media channels and in recruiting materials.

5.  Integrate the company purpose and values into the onboarding process:

It is important to integrating the company purpose and values into the onboarding process. This helps new employees understand the importance of the company purpose and values in the workplace culture and how they contribute to the organisation’s success. It can foster engagement and motivation and help new employees feel connected to the organisation. This contributes to the long-term success of the organisation.

• Provide an overview of the company values: During the onboarding process, provide an overview of the company values and how they align with the company’s mission and goals. This can help new employees understand the importance of the values in the workplace culture and how they contribute to the organisation’s success.
• Discuss how to put the values into practice: It’s important to demonstrate how the company values are put into practice in the workplace. This can involve providing examples of how employees have demonstrated the values in action or role-playing scenarios that demonstrate how the values should guide decision-making in the workplace.
• Train new employees on the company values: Provide training sessions that help new employees understand how to apply the company values in their day-to-day work. This can include discussing scenarios that illustrate the values and teaching new employees how to make decisions that align with the company purpose and values.
• Use the values to reinforce positive behaviours: During the onboarding process, emphasise the importance of positive behaviours that align with the company purpose and values. For example, recognise employees who demonstrate the values in their work or highlight examples of how the values have contributed to the organisation’s success.

Summary

Recruiting based on company purpose and values is important for building a strong, cohesive culture and achieving long-term goals. Hiring employees who share the company purpose and values has many benefits. These include creating a positive culture, increased employee engagement, streamlining the hiring process, enhancing brand reputation and increasing retention.

To recruit based on purpose and values, companies should include them in job descriptions. They should also evaluate candidates based on their alignment with the company purpose and values and communicate them throughout the hiring process.