Is anyone in charge of hiring at their job?

Question

If you are in charge of doing the hiring at your job, what qualities do you look for in a candidate....what makes a person most valuable for hire.....specifically, someone straight out of college?

Answer 1

I didn't hire someone because she sounded like a "valley girl". She had a degree and an upscale lifestyle ... but I wouldn't let her represent my department. Being able to verbally express yourself, correctly, without any region accents is important to me.

Answer 2

The company I work for uses temporary employees so that we know how the people perform before we decide to hire them or not. I'm not the one who does the actual hiring, but my decision does have some weight.

What I look for:
Attendance (Employee comes to work on time, when scheduled, and doesn't leave early. There is a difference between needing to miss on occassion and having an issue once a week.)

Productivity: Can the employee perform the tasks and meet the productivity and quality goals?

Attitude: The employee doesn't have to be friends with anyone they work with, but I don't want someone who causes a bunch of drama within the group.

Answer 3

these might not all be legal, but they go through my mind and who is checking with HR?

are they clean, healthy, well fed, teeth not rotting, sheltered, have they got Maslow's primal needs taken care of for now. (air, water, food,shelter,etc)

I want someone who can take minimal care of themselves and not be so stretched out that they will be wanting to steal and that they can physically do the work and stay healthy most of the year.

evidence of tobacco use especially smoking is a big negative, perhaps not a show stopper. And if they have to interrupt a day long interview for a smoke break .. that will kill it dead. It doesn't fit with the team, it kills time at work, it smells, and causes health problems with cause absentism and causes the insurance to go up.

do they look like they will fit in with the group.

do they seem to be the kind of person that would like to work with the group.

do they talk the talk .. and is there some evidence that they can walk the walk or be trained into it.

what did they actually do in college that might apply towards the job?

perhaps most importantly .do they seem to have the fire in their belly that they have a honest want to be on the job and solve problems for us. That might be more important than actual skills learned.

often a young fellow or gal will learn the hard way that they did not learn or know as much as they thought that they did .. but if they like it they will become one of the top performers without really trying.

truth stretches ok, but no lies.
getting caught in faking skills kills things dead too.

do they seem to be especially needy in one area, and can we live with those needs. I won't ask .. but if they mention odd problems like family/pregnancy/spouse abuse ..etc .. I don't need their problems and I can't solve them.

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Survival needs aside...

What you REALLY NEED is to be able to say each day is this is where I want and need to be right now.

If you can do that, then that is a great fit for you and the company.

Many people cannot say that and are miserable.

good hunting.

Answer 4

Tough question. Think of a snowflake, now apply that to people. Every person that comes in to interview in unique, so there is your answer. Get in the door and then sell yourself. Here are some hints:
Are you coachable?
Are you charismatic?
Are you a good listener? [my personal favorite]
Are you articulate?
Are you a self starter? [I hate employees employees who ask what they should do]
Come to the interview knowing about the company.
Tell them what you are going to do to increase their revenues.

After the interview, shoot over a thank you email, and let them know that if they have any questions to let you know. Then answer any questions promptly. Don't send this email and then not be checking messages. This is not the time to go get drunk for a long weekend with your friends and be out of touch. Be prompt and professional.