Three Unconventional Traits to Look For In Your Next Employee
The time has come. It’s time to hire your next (or first) employee.
Anyone else feel their stomach drop into their feet? No? Just me? Okay. Cool. Cool.
But seriously, all jokes aside, I get how nerve-racking it can be to even think about hiring on an employee or contractor. Back when I was 24 and tasked with the enormous responsibility of evaluating and hiring candidates, all I could think of was…
How the actual hell am I supposed to choose the right candidate??
Especially in a job market as competitive as this one, it can feel like everyone has great credentials, awesome references, and the experience you need.
But is that all there is to a great job candidate? Nope! Which is why I’m going to give you three unconventional traits to look for you in your first (or next) employee.
A great sense of humor
I’m guessing if you’re reading this blog, you probably share in my slightly eccentric, very weird, and off-the-beaten-path sense of humor.
Congratulations! This is the best club to be in. But when we’re sitting in job interviews, we can often forget that sense of fun and play, and to get a feel for what it’s like to engage with your team day-to-day.
So if you’re funny and weird, let job candidates know and see how they respond. They’re probably not going to let their “weird flag” completely fly during their interview (and neither should you), but if they look at you sideways, they might not be the best culture fit for your team.
A. Life.
Listen, we’re all human, okay? And every human I know has some sort of life outside of work. Even introverts like me need to go out and be social every once in a while!
Yes, it might be tempting to hire an employee who dedicates their life to work. But:
- A) that’s not an ethical expectation any boss should have and
- B) having a life outside of work will give them so much more to contribute to your company!
My best ideas come to me when I’m hanging out with my kid, going on walks, or just being with my friends — not when I’m stuck at my desk all the time. Creativity needs fun and freedom to flourish. So the best way to make sure your employees’ creativity flourishes is to hire people who have things they’re excited about and can focus on outside of work.
Now, I’m not saying they all have to have a partner and kids. They could have a hobby, like stand-up comedy, or pets they love. They might have trips planned. You get the idea. Don’t be afraid to ask what else they do that lights them up.
They talk about their failures
We’re always looking for candidates who have great wins and accolades to their name. This is definitely an important quality and you want your dream candidate to offer some great expertise. But if someone ONLY admits to their wins… that might be a bit of a red flag.
Every human on earth has made more than one mistake in their life, whether that’s work or personal. But the best job candidates are the ones who can own up to their mistakes and learn from them.
Want help hiring an amazing candidate?
As a business owner, you deserve to have an amazing team behind you! If you want to go beyond these three unconventional qualities and seek out the best, most diverse, and most qualified person for your job, HMU 😉
I would love to help you find a candidate who not only can do their job amazingly, but who feels like such a great fit for your team. You can go here to book a call with me.
