ColumnistsMar 04, 2025
The Smart Lab: Using Online Events to Supercharge Sales ColumnistsMar 18, 2025
Peter Smith: The Importance of Culture in Hiring
Smith explores why a qualified candidate might still not be right for the job.
Peter Smith is an industry consultant, speaker, sales trainer, and author. He can be reached via email at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com.
Is it my imagination or are we getting important hiring decisions wrong with greater frequency than ever before?
Just in the past few days, I’ve heard of a handful of people leaving positions after very short periods.
This includes employees who relocated for their new roles and within weeks or months were gone, leaving a trail of disappointment, dejection, and wasted financial resources.
Why is that? Why are so many companies getting it so wrong?
Or, are the candidates getting it wrong?
Bob Corlett, the founder and president of Staffing Advisors, wrote in the Washington Business Journal, “Most people are hired for skills but fired for ‘fit.’ People who don’t ‘fit in’ don’t last long in most organizations.”
If we assume that those candidates were appropriately vetted, their backgrounds checked, and their suitability for the positions satisfied, then the disconnect between performance and expectation, as evidenced by the hasty departures, clearly points to a problem.
Nobody wants to start a new job and find out in short order that they’ve made a mistake.
No employer wants to undertake the oftentimes stressful and time-consuming process of interviewing people, salary negotiations, potential relocations, and the deployment of resources for onboarding to have to unwind so quickly.
So, why does that continue to happen and what can we do about it?
Culture has sometimes been described as the water in which a fish swims. He doesn’t know it’s water, he has no frame of reference, and he couldn’t describe it to you even if you spoke fish and asked him (don’t spend too much time thinking about what fish sounds like; it’s a secret language).
If we take the fish and water metaphor to its next logical step, consider what happens when a fish is removed from water.
That image of a fish fighting for survival is not unlike the feeling one has when they find themselves in a culture that is fundamentally misaligned with who they are.
That awful realization that this is a mistake can be felt from the employee and the employer, and it can happen very fast.
The resolution can sometimes be dragged out as all sides try to find a solution, but it more often ends in separation because cultural misalignment is almost impossible to reconcile.
Related stories will be right here …
Just in the past few days, I’ve heard of a handful of people leaving positions after very short periods.
This includes employees who relocated for their new roles and within weeks or months were gone, leaving a trail of disappointment, dejection, and wasted financial resources.
Why is that? Why are so many companies getting it so wrong?
Or, are the candidates getting it wrong?
Bob Corlett, the founder and president of Staffing Advisors, wrote in the Washington Business Journal, “Most people are hired for skills but fired for ‘fit.’ People who don’t ‘fit in’ don’t last long in most organizations.”
If we assume that those candidates were appropriately vetted, their backgrounds checked, and their suitability for the positions satisfied, then the disconnect between performance and expectation, as evidenced by the hasty departures, clearly points to a problem.
Nobody wants to start a new job and find out in short order that they’ve made a mistake.
No employer wants to undertake the oftentimes stressful and time-consuming process of interviewing people, salary negotiations, potential relocations, and the deployment of resources for onboarding to have to unwind so quickly.
So, why does that continue to happen and what can we do about it?
Culture has sometimes been described as the water in which a fish swims. He doesn’t know it’s water, he has no frame of reference, and he couldn’t describe it to you even if you spoke fish and asked him (don’t spend too much time thinking about what fish sounds like; it’s a secret language).
If we take the fish and water metaphor to its next logical step, consider what happens when a fish is removed from water.
That image of a fish fighting for survival is not unlike the feeling one has when they find themselves in a culture that is fundamentally misaligned with who they are.
That awful realization that this is a mistake can be felt from the employee and the employer, and it can happen very fast.
The resolution can sometimes be dragged out as all sides try to find a solution, but it more often ends in separation because cultural misalignment is almost impossible to reconcile.
Organizational culture (whether it is by design or default) rarely, if ever, adapts to a new hire; it has to be the other way around.
There are exceptions, of course. A strong new leader can change the culture of an organization if they have a mandate to do so, and the necessary time and resources to make it happen.
Culture-fit is an intangible, but it has very tangible consequences when we get it wrong.
The candidate can have the requisite experience, the right traits and intellect, great work ethic, and a willing and excited employer ready to engage them, and yet we still get things wrong, even with the most important hires.
So why do we continue to make these mistakes despite the heavy cost to business, customers, and the existing teams?
In short, we continue to make hiring mistakes because we vastly underestimate the importance of culture fit.
In “Unleash Your Primal Brain,” author Tim Ash wrote, “If someone is not in accord with the behaviors and beliefs of the group, they are, by definition, a poor team member. Severe social sanctions will often fall on such people. They will either be forced to conform or removed from the group.”
That does not make them bad people. They could be great people but just not right for your group.
In condensing a solution to its most basic level, I would suggest that we document those behaviors and beliefs and then build a small portfolio of questions to be included in your interviewing process. (You do have a structured interview process, yes? Phew! Can you imagine not having one!)
Use the culture questions to fully explore the things the candidate holds dear and the things that matter most to the organization. Do they align? Are there significant disconnects?
Putting those questions together and adding them to the interview process is a critical exercise in helping the hiring manager, and the candidate, to better explore the things that could derail a relationship that otherwise checked all the boxes on talent, work ethic, experience, etc.
Some of the things that culture questions can reveal is a candidate who does not respond well to being micro-managed in an organization that is all about that.
A candidate who is excited about innovation and change in an organization that is resistant to change.
A candidate with aspirations to grow in a family business where the senior team are all related and not going anywhere.
A candidate who is most comfortable working at a deliberate pace in a company that operates at warp speed, or vice versa.
A candidate who needs a months-long ramp-up and all sorts of handholding in an organization that needs you to hit the ground running with the minimum amount of help.
There are literally dozens of reasons why someone might not work out. Sometimes it is as insidious as an incumbent employee in the organization who casts a large and destructive shadow and who the company isn’t willing to address.
In “For The Culture,” author Marcus Collins wrote, “People are looking to be a part of something just as much as you are looking for people to join you. You just have to find the right congregational fit.”
Amen to that!
More on Columnists
The Latest
EditorsSep 03, 2026
Q&A: Simon G.’s CEO on Why He Won’t Use AI for Jewelry DesignZaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.
Events & AwardsSep 03, 2026
Here Are the First Recipients of Nina Pugliese Memorial Scholarship Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.
WatchesSep 03, 2026
Robert Pattinson Joins Jaeger-LeCoultre as Brand AmbassadorThe British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
CollectionsSep 03, 2026
Sydney Evan Celebrates 25 Years With 4 New CollectionsThe “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.
Weekly QuizAug 27, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeSep 02, 2026
CA Jeweler Gets 5 Years in ‘Phantom Rolex’ Ponzi SchemeNelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.
AuctionsSep 02, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
MajorsSep 02, 2026
Messika Names Former Omega Exec as New President, CEO of AmericasArnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.
Events & AwardsSep 02, 2026
Emerald’s New Owner Introduces ‘Glitter in the Grove’The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.
AuctionsSep 01, 2026
UK Woman Uncovers Rare Patek Philippe Watch in Mom’s Jewelry BoxThe stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Kering Names New Pomellato, DoDo CEOsFormer Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Anne Marie Shulman Joins GPA GlobalThe veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.
CrimeAug 31, 2026
$4M Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Necklace Snatched From Vienna Museum Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).
GradingAug 31, 2026
GIA, Gübelin Gem Lab Confirm New Paraíba Tourmaline Deposit in EthiopiaThe labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.
Events & AwardsAug 31, 2026
Wisconsin Museum to Host Jewelry Exhibition“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
CollectionsAug 31, 2026
Catbird Launches First Men’s Jewelry CollectionThe “Worn Well” collection is Catbird's take on classic men's jewelry.
CollectionsAug 28, 2026
Dolly Parton Would Have Loved This Butterfly Necklace This Buddha Mama butterfly is our Piece of the Week honoring the legend, who embraced the beautiful insect as her symbol.
SourcingAug 28, 2026
Gareth Penny to Give Opening Speech at CIBJO Centenary CongressThe former De Beers CEO, and perhaps its next owner, will be a featured speaker at the event, slated for Sept. 4-7 in Italy.
IndependentsAug 28, 2026
Day’s Jewelers Honored With 3 Workplace AwardsThe employee-owned jeweler was named a “Best Place to Work” in Maine, New Hampshire, and for women.
CollectionsAug 27, 2026
Pandora Expands ‘Talisman’ Collection as Lawsuit Continues The second iteration of the jewelry collection was inspired by the zodiac and the four elements: earth, water, air and fire.
SourcingAug 27, 2026
OFAC Renews License Allowing Import of ‘Grandfathered’ Russian Diamonds General License 104B supersedes General License 104A, which was set to expire on Sept. 1.
CrimeAug 27, 2026
Customs Seizes Nearly 900 Pieces of Counterfeit JewelryThe package, intercepted in Indianapolis, contained fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry.
IndependentsAug 27, 2026
Jessica McCormack to Open First West Coast StoreThe new location in Costa Mesa, California, marks the brand’s second store in the United States and fourth standalone location worldwide.
FinancialsAug 27, 2026
Movado’s Q2 Sales Up As Younger Consumers Take Interest in WatchesThe fashion watch category was once threatened by the Apple Watch, but consumers are now opting for new wearables, said Movado’s CEO.
SurveysAug 26, 2026
5 Jewelry Insights From The RealReal’s Resale ReportThe report delves into trending styles, the most popular jewelry brands by city, and why Belle Époque jewelry could be the next big thing.
Lab-GrownAug 26, 2026
AGTA Now Requiring Members to Call Lab-Grown Gems ‘Synthetic’The association added the requirement to its revised "Code of Ethics" and released the 17th edition of its “Gemstone Information Manual.”
