If someone is fun loving, gets along with everyone and can work a room; they have the perfect qualities to be in sales. Let’s say someone is great with numbers, very detail oriented and keeps all their projects running smoothly; they are destined for the accounting department.
It is easy to place people into a job when they have all the “right” personality traits, but what happens when you have someone who doesn’t fit? Sometimes you come across a unique candidate that has an odd array of skills. Someone who doesn’t blend into the status quo but yet you see incredible potential. Here are five ways to evaluate your situation to see if this unconventional candidate has potential to grow your business.
- Look at the candidate’s combination of skills: Find out what they are good at. Can they talk to people? Are they a Problem Solver? Do they have a knack for organization? Are they out of the box thinkers? Really try to delve into the intricacies of their personality without any preconceived notions of what they are supposed to be. Understand what they want out of working with your company and see if your priorities align with theirs. This will be one of the first steps in evaluating their potential and will help you decide if this is a good fit. Sometimes a great candidate might just be the wrong person to hire for your business because they aren’t what you need. A good example of this is something I see all the time in recruiting mortgage professionals. A client needs a retail Regional Manager. They interview a candidate who has all the traits they’re looking for, stellar references and a great resume. But…..they’ve been on the wholesale side of the business for the last 3 years. Often times, this little pesky fact is enough to get the resume trashed. But not so fast….if they’ve got strong leadership skills, have a demonstrated track record of success in recruiting and understand the retail side of the business, why not give them a shot? I have seen more success stories than I can count with clients that are willing to look outside the box.
- Take a look the way you’re doing things: Make sure the way your business is structured isn’t outdated and look up the latest industry trends to verify you are doing things in the most efficient manner. This unique candidate might be the perfect addition to your team to unlock untapped potential.
- Fit the job to the candidate; don’t fit your candidate to the job: Often times employers try to fit their candidates into a box, a metaphorical box of rules or regulations are put in place and have to be met in order to be considered for a position. For your unconventional candidate it is important to throw that box out the window and take their skills as they are, make a position that fits their complex personality and also fits your business. By making a position for your employee you ensure that both your needs and their needs are met.
- Don’t be afraid to say “it’s not a fit”: Sometimes it just doesn’t work. Similar to putting a square peg in a round hole, your candidate may be a very talented individual but just doesn’t fit with your business model. It is important to communicate this to your employee and determine if there is a way to create a better fit or simply call it a day.
- Create a plan for your new candidate to succeed: Your unique candidate may be extremely hard working, intelligent and creative but without a plan in place to utilize those skills it may be difficult for them to succeed. Make sure that both you and the candidate fully understand what is expected of them, what the goals are and how they should reach them. Of course, no one is suggesting hand-holding but a clear cut path that both Parties understand can make all the difference. With no direction or structure it is difficult to complete tasks to the best of their ability and it will frustrate them that the quality of their work is lacking. Your candidate should have clear goals in mind that can be accomplished and measured in order to have a happier employee – employer relationship.
MSA has been identifying the most qualified individuals for positions within the mortgage and financial industries for over three decades. This experience has enabled us to build a powerful national network comprised of the most talented individuals in the industry. If you’d like to get in touch with us about our Candidate or Employer services, please complete a contact form on our webpage and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
