5 Things You Should Look for When Hiring Someone New

Hiring might seem like it’s as easy as picking the first person with the right skills, but actually, it’s much harder than that and you need to find someone who has more than the right degree if you want to ensure that your staff are the best they can be. So, here are 5 things you should definitely be looking for when the time comes for you to add to your employees:

1. Soft Skills

You’ve probably heard a lot about soft skills and why you should be paying more attention for them, and there’s a really good reason for that; soft skills are vital to the success of any company and their staff. Sure, soft skills may seem a little intangible when compared to technical skills. But at the end of the day, you need people who can get the job done, but who can also charm clients, communicate clearly and keep the team together. You need soft skills to keep everything ticking along nicely.

2. a Cultural Fit

The best hire isn’t just someone who can do the job—they’re someone who fits in with your company’s vibe. Are you running a laid-back, creative team that values collaboration? Or maybe you’ve got a fast-paced, no-nonsense culture where efficiency is king?

You want someone who can seamlessly blend into your company culture, not someone who sticks out like a sore thumb and makes things awkward. During interviews, ask questions that dig into their personality and work style to see if they align with your team’s values and energy. You’re building more than just a workforce—you’re creating a squad.

3. Initiative

There’s nothing worse than hiring someone who just waits to be told what to do, right? You want someone with initiative—someone who sees a problem and tackles it without waiting for a memo from the boss.

Ask potential hires about a time they took charge of a situation, solved a problem, or stepped up without being asked. Their answer can give you insight into whether they’re going to be a self-starter or someone who needs constant hand-holding. (Hint: go for the self-starter.)

4. a Growth Mindset

You don’t want someone who’s stuck in their ways. You need a candidate who’s got a growth mindset—the belief that they can always learn and improve. People with this mindset don’t freak out when they face new challenges; instead, they see them as opportunities to grow.

Look for candidates who talk about how they’ve learned from mistakes, adapted to change, or taken steps to develop new skills. These are the people who won’t shy away from taking your business to the next level.

5. Flexibility

Businesses need flexibility. They need people who can juggle multiple roles; people who can come in when you need them most and do whatever needs to be done whenever it needs to be done. That’s why you should try to find new hires who will say “Yes, I can help with that” person, not “That’s not in my job description” one. Flexibility in a fast-moving world is a must-have.

Hiring someone is expensive, so be sure to get it right first time and look for these 5 things!