Recruit Your Tribe: How to Hire for Culture Fit

One of the most important tools you have as a hiring manager is writing job posts that communicate your company culture. If done well, you can appeal to your tribe while weeding out the rest. You sit in the driver’s seat; use these expert tips when writing job posts and watch as you build a tribe that changes the world.

Wait, why do I want to hire a tribe?

What is a tribe? A tribe is any group of people that are connected to each other, an idea and a leader. Think about the tribes you belong to: your family, your group of friends, your co-ed softball team — and of course your place of work. When people are part of a tribe, they are happier, have higher self esteem, and perform at a higher level than those who feel disengaged. A company tribe will positively affect every single corporate metric  from customer service to profitability.

[clickToTweet tweet="Turns out, people who like their jobs do their best work. — @ThisIsSethsBlog How to Hire Your Tribe:" quote="It turns out, people who like their jobs are doing their best work. — Seth Godin, Tribes"]

If you want your next hire to be an amazing culture fit, you need to know how to find them, and finding them starts with the job post.

The Tribal Job Post

Here is a sample of a well-written job post focused on recruiting for a dental office tribe:

Dynamic, full time, Registered Dental Hygienist position available in an outstanding practice located in GA. We are seeking a positive, hard working, intelligent, professional and highly motivated team player with excellent communication skills and attention to detail. Yes, we are looking to add a rockstar to our top-notch team! (or superstar to our top-notch roster!)   Our team is committed to excellence in all aspects of patient care and dentistry.  We believe in the importance of patient relationships built on mutual respect, kindness and trust. If exceptional care and a healthy work culture appeals to you, we would love to meet you.

What stands out about this job description compared to your run-of-the-mill listing? It is all about the culture. If building a tribe of happy employees is the goal, each of the following 6 components should be included in any job posting your company writes.

Expert Tips: The 6 Must-Have Components of a Tribal Job Post

To compose a job listing that successfully targets the right candidates, be sure to include the following:

1. Generate hope.

Tribes have a way of bringing out the best in each member. If hope in being part of something bigger is part of the job listing, those that apply know the job is more than a paycheck — it is an opportunity to be a part of a “top-notch team” that is “committed to excellence in all aspects of patient care and dentistry.” It is bigger than just going to work; it is a chance to make the industry and the lives of patients better.

2. Spark passion.

If the job offers the candidate an opportunity to be a part of a belief system that they value, their passion will be ignited. The pursuit of passion will take your team further than any monetary incentive ever will.

3. Convey intentional purpose.

If your job posting is dry and vague you will attract dry, unintentioned candidates. However, if you are explicit about the mission of your company and your tribe, you will attract candidates that share that intentionality.

4. Serve your current tribe.

To write a job posting that attracts the right people, you must write it with your current tribe in mind. What are the characteristics you need to bring in to the current team to make it stronger? What gaps in personalities or skills do you need to fill? As you write, be specific about what your current tribe needs in order to become better.

5. List company culture/values.

Be very clear about the values you want to encourage. The sample post lists the values they find important:

• Excellence in care
• Relationships
• Respect
• Kindness
• Trust

These characteristics are what make this particular dental practice unique. If a candidate does not value these things they will not be a good culture fit.

6. Explain desired employee values.

As important as it is for the candidate to know the company values, you must also share your expectations for what values you want your potential employee to embody. If you need someone who is a go-getter and isn’t afraid to share ideas, say that. If you want someone detail-oriented who is good with people, include it in the post. The sample dental office is clear that they want someone who is hardworking, positive, professional, intelligent, kind, motivated, and who wants to be part of a team.

The Bottom Line

Every company is unique, and building a tribe does not happen overnight. It is a process that happens over time. The building of a tribe also influences the building of a company culture, so as you bring on more and more people, the company culture may adapt and change. The most important takeaway is you have the power to bring people into your tribe that feel as strongly about your belief system as you do. Don’t compromise your values to fill positions — be intentional with your job posting and the right tribe member will apply. 

Tonya Lanthier is a registered dental hygienist and the CEO of DentalPost. She lives in Atlanta where her passion revolves around using her innovative platform to help improve the lives of others. DentalPost is an online and mobile platform that helps dental professionals and practices connect.