The hiring process is crucial to creating a hardworking team that meshes well together. Thoughtful and strategic hiring should use a holistic evaluation method to dig into whether a candidate will be the right fit for the team. When evaluating candidates for your workplace, make sure you’re considering the following six factors to ensure you have the right person for the role.
1. Look for Overall Attitude
When it comes down to it, attitude is an essential factor to consider for any new hire. You want someone enthusiastic about the position and ready to hit the ground running. It’s also important to consider whether or not this person will be a good temperamental fit with their new manager and any potential staff they will be managing. Curating a team that works well together is a practiced skill, and one of the most foundational considerations should always be finding someone with a positive attitude who will mesh well with others.
2. Evaluate Process As Well as Product
When you’re digging into your actual interview questions, don’t forget to probe about their work process and how they came to specific outcomes. Often, we focus disproportionately on the products of a potential employee; however, it’s important to get a feel for how they work and their mindset when tackling a new and complex project.
3. Check-in With Non-Interviewer Staff
Don’t forget to ask staff who weren’t a part of the interview process, such as front desk staff or HR representatives, if they experienced any red flags with the candidate. If a potential hire was rude or disrespectful to other staff members, it is a major issue and one you should consider when evaluating a candidate.
4. Ask About Professional Development Goals
When evaluating candidates, it’s always a great idea to search for staff who are lifelong learners and who will work towards their own professional development goals. Make sure you’re also exploring with your candidates their goals and how this current opportunity fits into that trajectory; that way, you’ll find new hires willing to go above and beyond for their growth and professional development.
5. Make Special Note of Questions
Don’t forget to take note of the types of questions people ask during the interview. You want to know that they’ve done their research and explored the potential role, so keep an eye out for thoughtful questions that showcase this preparation, rather than just the generic “what would my day-to-day look like.” You want your candidate to be curious about the role and for their questions to show that.
6. Challenge With an Application Question or Assignment
Finally, asking a potential hire to complete a small project or assignment is an excellent way for them to showcase their applicable skills or weed out any applicants who don’t have the practical experience for the role. Whether it’s through a prepared assignment before the interview or something during the interview, make sure there’s a chance for applicants to apply and showcase relevant skills!
