Important Traits to Look for When Hiring a New Employee

Growing your team is exciting, but it’s also nerve-wracking. You know you only want to hire people with the right skills and experience to effectively do the job you need them to do, but beyond that, what should you be looking for? How can you be sure your new hire is going to fit in well with the rest of your team and your company’s culture?

There are a few key traits you should look for when hiring an employee that go beyond whether or not they can do the job. Finding an employee with these traits can give you more confidence in your hire.

Integrity

Integrity means making choices that are aligned with your values. It also means being honest and morally upright. Employees with integrity do what they say they will, and they do it while following company and industry rules and best practices. You can count on a person with integrity to represent your company well at all times, and to operate with high standards. 

Strong communication skills

When a person has strong communication skills, it helps them be an effective member of a team. Strong communication is vital to getting work done efficiently and to solving problems in the workplace. Employees should have strong verbal communication skills (able to carry on a conversation, maintain eye contact, etc.), written communication skills (have a good grasp on spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and able to communicate their ideas clearly), and listening skills (intently take in information from others so they can respond accordingly).

Communication skills can make or break your team’s effectiveness and/or your company’s image to the outside world. When you’re hiring, look for candidates who communicate well every step of the way. 

Leadership

Employees with strong leadership skills make great hires. These are people who will likely strive to succeed and advance within your company, which means they’ll last longer at your company and decrease turnover. They’ll also be go-getting types who always push themselves and inspire others. 

Reliability

Reliability is a super important quality for any employee to have. When you hire someone, you want to know that they’re going to show up when they need to, get they’re work done on time, and always put the right amount of effort into their job. Fill your team with reliable people and you’ll always be confident that the work will get done. 

Works well with others

Someone who doesn’t know how to cooperate with others isn’t going to be a great member of your team. Look for someone who wants to contribute, but who is also willing to listen to other ideas and opinions. You want employees who are able to respect and listen to one another, not employees who are constantly trying to show each other up. 

Confidence

You don’t want a cocky employee, but you do want a confident one. Confident employees are willing to step up and step in. They recognize that they’re able to contribute in a meaningful way, and they do it. They share their skills and ideas with confidence, rather than shrinking away from problems or challenges out of insecurity. Look for employees who are confident in their abilities while still being willing to learn and grow.

Initiative

Employees who have initiative are proactive and ambitious. They take the lead when needed, face challenges head on, and don’t always wait to be told what to do before jumping in and trying something new. Employees with initiative are going to bring energy and perspective to your team, and will always put their best foot forward.

Hiring is tricky, but if you know what you’re looking for, it can still be successful. If you can find an employee who has the right skills to do the job, and the personality traits that will set them up for success, you’ve likely found an employee who is going to do great things for your team and your company.