If you are into the hiring stage of your business, it can only mean one of two things: that you have successfully navigated the stressful jungles of business incorporation (http://www.maxfilings.com/business-incorporation.html) and your organization is growing; or an employee has left, giving you the opportunity to fill the position with even better talent. Both of these scenarios should be exciting!
But how come it doesn’t feel that way?
Perhaps it’s because you know that spotting the good from the bad often seems like a game of chance and you never know which card you will draw.
Smart hiring decisions are crucial to an organization’s success or failure. Unfortunately, there is no clear formula for distinguishing the superstars from the 30-day washouts. However, hiring isn’t completely luck of the cards either.
There are a number of “tells” which indicate that you may have found a winning candidate. Some important qualities that veteran hiring managers have determined to be critical when searching for in a new employee are:
- Passionate and Energized Personality – You want to hire someone who is psyched about at least one thing. From a quick glance at their cover letter or resume, figure out what this “something” is and ask them a question about that topic. Then sit back and observe their contagious enthusiasm.
- Personal Goals and Ambition – Ask the candidate to talk about or show evidence of projects they have invested in, outside of work and school assignments. Personal projects show that they are ambitious and will retain a strong desire to improve themselves and—if you hire them—your business down the road.
- Difficulty Communicating – It may seem counterintuitive, but don’t necessarily be put off by candidates who mumble, ramble, or have difficulty engaging in a conversation. Often these are some of the best surprises. Find a topic that interests them and watch them spring to life.
- Insatiable Curiosity – People who are intensely curious and ask a lot of questions—perhaps even too much sometimes—are often the ones who come up with the best solutions. Curious individuals are problem-solvers and will always find ways to improve.
- Unique Hobbies – The mark of a good worker isn’t necessarily involvement in extracurricular activities like student government or sports. While these are great hobbies too, find out what else they like to do in their free time outside of work or school. This is a great way to learn about their passions, personal goals, and how much they invest in their unique interests—not to mention it will get them out of their shell a little.
Remember that a candidate doesn’t have to be a “jack of all trades” to be an excellent fit for your organization. Many of the worst employees have all the technical know-how, but lack other critical qualities that matter.
Although it’s not easy, good hiring means choosing someone who can grow with your company and bring a new, much-needed skill set to the team. If you can accomplish this successfully, you will be adding another ace to your business.