A seemingly perfect resume does not necessarily translate to an ideal employee – and even if it did, many hiring managers in New Mexico may not have the highest budgets or flashiest reputations to land the most in-demand talent. In order to fill your available jobs with capable candidates, it is crucial to look beyond resumes to spot the skills and traits that are indicative of successful contributors.
Equip your business for a strong long-term future with a more strategic hiring process by following these key best practices to identify hidden potential in candidates:
Assess for Transferable Skills
Even if a candidate is lacking in direct applicable experience, it is likely they have picked up transferable skills from their work history that could make them valuable to your team. Identify the transferable skills that are foundational for the role, and assess for these proficiencies as you review resumes.
Soft skills that are helpful throughout roles and industries include:
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Creativity
Look for Examples of Learning Agility
The advantage of hiring someone based on potential is that you can then train them in the skills and processes they need to perform the role’s duties. As you evaluate candidates that seem to have hidden potential, dive deeper while interviewing them to find out more about times they were agile in learning new skills.
Sample interview question: “Describe a time in which you had to learn a new skill quickly to complete a task or project.”
Observe During Interactions
Top performers tend to exhibit behaviors that are indicative of their desire to go above and beyond. As you interact with candidates during the hiring process, observe how they act throughout it, such as when contacting them to set up the interview, during the interview itself, and the follow up.
Positive behaviors to look for that indicate high potential for being a top performer include:
- Overall professionalism
- Asking thoughtful, well-prepared questions
- Showing initiative to do more than requested
- Displaying enthusiasm
Land Qualified Candidates in New Mexico
Find employees with potential for adding value to your team by working with The Hire Firm for your New Mexico staffing needs. With nearly three decades of experience in recruitment and staffing in New Mexico, The Hire Firm is dedicated to helping area employers find top talent for their business needs. Contact us today to learn more about our employer services.