Despite wide recognition that cultural fit is an important attribute in evaluating a potential new hire, only three out of four organizations appraise it during the job interview process, according to a nationwide survey conducted by distributor 4imprint. The Oshkosh, Wisconsin, company’s research examined recent trends in employee recruitment, interviewing techniques and the use of employee recruitment giveaways during the recruiting process.

4imprint’s research, published in the e-book, Hiring Trends: 2019 Survey Results, also identified other trends in interview techniques, participation and recruitment giveaways. One-on-one interviews are the most popular interview format, with 79 percent of companies performing one-on-one, in-person interviews, and 64 percent of companies performing one-on-one interviews over the phone. Also, nearly four in 10 respondents (38 percent) say employee referral programs are the most effective method of recruitment, more than any other two methods combined. Furthermore, the study found that more than one-third of all organizations use branded drinkware for the recruitment and interviewing process, making it a very popular gift for new employees.

“As organizations continuously look for ways to attract the best talent, knowing which techniques work best can give hiring pros an extra edge,” says Kevin Lyons-Tarr, CEO, 4imprint. “That’s why we went right to the source, asking HR professionals what recruitment techniques, interview questions and employee recruitment giveaways are helping them appeal to prospective employees.”

Results found in the e-book are based on a survey of more than 300 human resources professionals collected from October 10, 2018 to November 4, 2018. Survey respondents work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, education, small business and more.