TALENT ACQUISITION: 5 QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR WHEN RECRUITING TOP TALENT

Jeff Mignault • May 11, 2017

Talent acquisition and recruiting is an important opportunity for your organization to not only find and hire the best talent available, but to also improve your organization. Getting it right can pay huge dividends for your company. Therefore, it’s important to invest in your hiring practices, know the qualities to look for when recruiting top talent, and have the right approach to hiring.

HIRING FOR CHARACTER OVER COMPETENCE

As they say, you can’t teach character, but you can teach skills, a reason why many companies are now placing a greater emphasis on soft skills and looking for a strong organizational culture fit when hiring.

“Your organization is only as good as the talent you recruit. It is the people who define and shape the organizational culture — so identifying people with the right character, attitudes, and behavior must be the highest priority when hiring or promoting within,” says leadership expert Bill Hogg in Focus on Character Not Competence: 3 Ways to Build a Strong Organizational Culture.

5 QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR WHEN RECRUITING TOP TALENT

Here are some of the top qualities to look for when recruiting talent:

1. LEADERSHIP:

You can never have too many people with leadership abilities. Looking for candidates with leadership skills can help you now and potentially in the future when looking to fill other roles within your organization.

2. RESILIENCE:

Finding people who can thrive under any circumstance is vital. “Most organizations are now experiencing increased instability and uncertainty, and thus, using shorter planning horizons. Teams in all functional areas are seeing more tumultuous work streams with changing goals and deadlines. Some people have a strong tendency to mentally lock-up under those conditions,” says Technori.

3. COACHABILITY:

The ability to be coached, learn new skills, and take constructive criticism is very important. Those who possess this, seek out mentorship, and are open to expanding their skills and abilities will grow professionally and help your company evolve, as well.

4. VERSATILITY:

There is less and less room for one-dimensional talent today. Organizations need people who have diverse skill sets and can work on multiple projects, and in a variety of settings. Versatility gives your company more flexibility.

5. LOYALTY:

This is perhaps one of the most difficult qualities to find today. Modern professionals are becoming accustomed to moving around, and finding someone who is willing to grow with your company and be loyal is highly desirable. But you need to offer an environment and culture that will make them want to stay and be dedicated to your company.