When it comes to making a job offer, it’s natural to be drawn to the candidate who’s done the role before. On paper, they often feel like the safest choice.
But after more than a decade in recruitment, I’ve learned that the candidate with the closest experience isn’t always the one who goes on to make the greatest long-term impact.
Of course, experience has its place. But qualities such as attitude, adaptability and a genuine willingness to learn are often far more valuable, and much harder to teach.
Before making your final hiring decision, here are five questions I’d encourage every employer to ask.
Does this person genuinely want to learn and develop?
Skills can be taught, but curiosity and a desire to improve are qualities that often lead to long-term success.
How will they respond when things don’t go to plan?
Every role comes with challenges. Looking beyond a candidate’s experience and considering how they approach setbacks, accept feedback and adapt to change can tell you a great deal about how they’ll perform in the future.
Will they complement your team and your culture?
The strongest teams aren’t made up of people who are all the same. They’re built around individuals whose values, behaviours and approach allow them to work well together and contribute positively.
Are you overlooking transferable skills?
Some of the best hires I’ve seen have come from different industries altogether. Strong communication, organisation, problem-solving and relationship-building skills transfer remarkably well between sectors and can bring fresh ideas into a business.
Who is most likely to thrive in your organisation over the long term?
The candidate who believes in your business, embraces your values and wants to grow with you may ultimately become your strongest appointment.
Recruiting for experience alone can sometimes feel like the lowest-risk option, but it can also mean overlooking exceptional people with the attitude and potential to succeed.
At Simkiss Recruitment Solutions, we encourage our clients to look beyond the CV and consider the whole person. Through our Simkiss Select solution, we can help you create a structured recruitment process that assesses not only experience, but also attitude, potential, transferable skills and long-term suitability.
Because the best hire isn’t always the one who’s done the job before – it’s often the one who’s ready to make it their own.
If you would like to discuss how we can help tailor a bespoke recruitment process for your business, fill in the form here for an initial conversation.
