How to identify your next star employee?

Hiring a new employee is always a gamble. After you’ve invested time and resources to source, screen, and train a new hire, you want to be sure there’s a high Return on Investment (ROI). By identifying these core competencies, you’ll be able to figure out who will be your best and brightest employee before you even hire them. 

• ​Credibility

The best candidates already have jobs. It’s very likely that top candidates are currently employed; they’re probably content with their current jobs and are not actively looking for new opportunities. These are known as passive candidates. Their current employers have retained them because they likely have the right credentials and are contributing to their company's success. Therefore, it’s important for recruitment teams to not rely solely on inbound candidates, but to also actively source these passive candidates.
 

• Great Communication

No matter what industry you work in, the ability to communicate effectively is essential. In a survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council, communication skills are the most in demand, with verbal communication at the top.
 
A candidate that can express him/herself articulately and has good listening comprehension skills will be a valuable member of your team. Good communication between employees will allow the department to run smoothly.
 

• The Right Technical Expertise

This is a no-brainer. Your top candidate should have all the skills you’re looking for. It’s also important to look for relevant industry experience, as well. At headhuntr.io, we use Candidate Intelligence to source and screen candidates with the right skills, product knowledge and industry experience. Candidates that meet (or beat) the job’s requirements settle into their roles faster.
 

• Strong Problem Solving Skills

Great employees are always looking to improve. The best employees are looking to improve not only themselves, but also the company’s processes and/or product. Problem-solvers are generally employees who bring ideas and solutions to the table. Which, in turn, generates profit.
 

• Work-Life Balance

Employees work best when they are happy. One key to happiness in the workplace is a good work-life balance. According to a poll by the Corporate Executive Board, employees with good work-life balance work 21% harder. It also shows that a candidate has a sense of priorities, and employees who know how to prioritize work well without much guidance.
 
Don’t give into the pressure of hiring based on skills and experience alone. If you want your business to have long-term success, you’ll need to look beyond the resume.
 
Having trouble finding the perfect candidate? Broaden your talent pool by utilizing our data-driven approach. We use Candidate Intelligence to source top-tier candidates from our database of 300+ Million candidate profiles. Send us your hard-to-fill req at contact@headhuntr.io