Do we click? How employers are now testing vibes not just skills

Dear Job Seekers, we're now looking for vibes.

This is according to a career coach who says this has been happening over the last two to three years.

Achieng’ Abok, a Nairobi-based Professional Development Specialist, says that this is done through what is known as a ‘chemistry call’- a brief conversation to assess a candidate’s fit with the company culture and to get a feel of their personality.

“These calls are not interviews,” Achieng’ emphasizes. “They’re often brief, casual, and happen before any formal interview. Recruiters use them to get a sense of who you are beyond your CV- how you speak, your tone, your personality, and whether you’ll gel with the company culture.”

She adds that chemistry calls are especially common for mid-career professionals, headhunted candidates, or those shifting from rigid sectors like banking or government into more flexible environments like NGOs or start-ups.

“They want to know; will this person bring the right energy into the team?”

While these conversations may feel informal, Achieng’ cautions that they’re still a critical part of the hiring process.

Candidates should be able to talk about their values, environments they thrive in, motivations, conflict resolution styles, management styles, backgrounds beyond their professions, and the like.

“These calls have become more common especially as Gen Zs transition into the market, because there have been generational clashes due to lack of chemistry. Candidates therefore need to be absolutely authentic and calm,” she notes, adding that the questions asked are not typical interview questions, and the tone tends to be more conversational.

These calls are important because recruiters use the information shared to determine whether candidates can proceed to the interview stage.

Achieng’ notes that this doesn’t necessarily block out candidates, and in many cases, recruiters already believe the candidate is a strong prospect.

“Rarely do recruiters call if they’re not impressed. Interviews have also morphed into panel-based sessions involving department heads mostly focused on the technical aspects of the job. These chemistry calls are just to see if a candidate is a wholesome human being beyond the results,” she explains.

This also happens after recruiters have conducted a background check on candidates via their social media and, for senior roles, may even check financial records like debt.

While the calls might seem very brief and light, Achieng’ advises candidates to understand that this is a crucial part of the hiring process and it’s not about proving your technical skills.

“They want to check your emotional intelligence,” she concludes.