You’ve heard it before, it all starts with the right hire.
Finding the perfect candidate that will bring a unique skill set and all the
qualities you are looking for from cutting-edge technical skills to top-notch
interpersonal skills, the ability to work with upper management as well as the
customer, a drive to grow and the list goes on and on. We can picture that perfect person in our
head. That person comes into work with a
smile on her face, ready to take on the world, thereby bringing your company to
higher levels of greatness. Ahhh, bliss!
And while that ideal candidate may be out there, how many employees do you have
at your firm? And is it possible for
every employee at your company to have a combination of all of those skills
that define the perfect employee? Unfortunately the answer is no, because while
you might find candidates that display a tremendous amount of technical
ability, not all of them will be the best communicators. And in addition to finding ideal employees,
you also have to be concerned with employee retention. So much to be concerned with, but there is
hope!
In today’s economy, we are faced with a market of potential
hires that are on a spectrum. The two
most common players in the market are:
- The college graduate. He has the technical skills that will knock your socks off, is confident and ready to take on any project that comes his way but lacks the finesse of a seasoned communicator.
- The experienced professional. This person can interface with anyone who comes his way, has a comfortable nature about him, knows the ropes of the job, yet isn’t very excited about bleeding edge technologies and skills necessary to succeed in the digital world.
So what is the answer?
How do we have a workforce that has all the attributes that we talked
about making up the “perfect employee?”
The answer is through strategic hiring.
Through strategic hiring you bring on-board individuals that
create the ideal whole, a combination of hard and soft skills; the combination
of individuals that have the cutting edge technical skills coupled with those
employees whose soft skills bring professionalism and harmony to the
office. After all, you don’t want to
have an office full of individuals that bring mad technical skills, but when
you sit them down for constructive
criticism they look behind them and think, “she can’t be talking to me,”
because after all they are a hot shot in their field technically. On the other hand you don’t want an office filled
with individuals that can give and take direction well, know how to handle a
crisis in the office, but when faced with a cutting-edge task, look at you and
say, “Hmmm, what are you talking about?”
The secret to a cohesive and effective team is to hire individuals who
complement each other.
In life, people rub off on each other. When the guy sitting next to you knows how to
do something and is proud of his work, in true human spirit we are curious and want
to learn what he’s doing. So when the
Hot-Shot College Grad with her cutting edge programming skills is sitting next
to Mr. Seasoned Professional, it may very well make sense that they will rub
off on each other; the college graduate gaining professionalism in how she
conducts herself in the office and deals with others, and the seasoned
professional gaining some new technical skills.
Through this exchange of skills, all mutually benefit.
It is always important to keep this diversity in mind in
terms of skills and experience when hiring.
Think of the office dynamic – what skills, both hard and soft will bring
the best synergy to the group? How will
this new person impact the office? With
the right balance, you can expect an enthusiastic work force that works within
their strengths and yet brings each other to the next level. Employee retention
is the natural byproduct, because all parties involved are growing and
learning, and that is what makes work satisfying.
