How to Find the Right Employee for the Job

Businesswoman blogger Darlene McDaniel wrote a great post on Interview Chatter this week that cites five things managers should look for when trying to find skilled people to help run their companies. Of course, Darlene notes there are more than five things you should look for from prospective employees during the interview process, but she does a great job of highlighting some of the most important things to keep in mind.

Darlene reminds managers that the interview should be primarily a one-sided conversation with the candidate doing 75% of the talking. That’s a great tip to use when you’re interviewing someone in the future. I think every manager has a tendency to get caught up in trying to explain too much about the company, expectations, culture, etc. during an interview. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of talking too much during an interview with a prospective employee. It’s hard to sit and listen, but it truly is the most important part of a manager’s job during the interview process. As Darlene states, listen to the candidate and evaluate what that person is saying to determine whether that person is right for the job, your team and the company.

Darlene goes on to list the following five things to look for when interviewing a prospective employee:

1. Look for the best person for the job to match the core competencies of the position.
2. Have a profile of the right person for the job in mind before you start the interview process.
3. Look for a candidate with applicable experience doing the same tasks and projects he or she will be required to perform when working for you, or look for skills that could easily transfer to the position with appropriate training.
4. Look for a candidate who knows something about your organization.Â
5. Look for a candidate who exceeds your current expectations and established standards of exceptional performance.

I would add to Darlene’s list to look for a candidate who brings added value to your team. Will a different way of thinking or working enhance your team or make it more well-rounded? Perhaps your team is made up of more visionary people, and you need to add some practical thinkers to the mix. Whoever you choose to fill a position needs to not just fit into the role but also fit into the team and the organization as a whole.

What other things do you think are most important to look for in prospective employees during the interview process?

Susan Gunelius

Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).

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