5 answers
mia
Student
Troutdale, Oregon
4
Questions
Asked
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Can you tell me about the best hire you ever made? What was that person like?
Can you tell me about the best hire you ever made? What was that person like?
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5 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer
750
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
I was responsible for interviewing and hiring people for our department.
I had several people, who were very good, and they all had several things in common.
They were very skilled in the area that they were pursuing, but they also had two very important characterstics.
They were very industrious and they were very enthusiatic and loved what they were doing.
Nothing will work unless the person has good work ethic. They were always trying to improve themselves. They pursued professional certifications and improved their skills.
They also really loved what they were doing. This enthusiasm really boosted the spirits and work environment, which made the workplace a great place to be.
So, those were the best people I hired.
I had several people, who were very good, and they all had several things in common.
They were very skilled in the area that they were pursuing, but they also had two very important characterstics.
They were very industrious and they were very enthusiatic and loved what they were doing.
Nothing will work unless the person has good work ethic. They were always trying to improve themselves. They pursued professional certifications and improved their skills.
They also really loved what they were doing. This enthusiasm really boosted the spirits and work environment, which made the workplace a great place to be.
So, those were the best people I hired.
Brenna Smedley
talent acquisition director
5
Answers
Farmington, Utah
Updated
Brenna’s Answer
This is such a good question and the responses have been excellent! The best hire I've ever made had the following characteristics:
1) Confident, self-aware, and humble (no ego)- This person believed in themselves and spoke with confidence, which helped them to earn the trust of their team and partners. They were able to motivate people through that confidence and they didn't second guess their decisions. They were aware of their strengths and weaknesses and asked for help when they needed it. This person also shared credit with others and didn't seek affirmation or brag about their achievements. They shared in their teams wins and celebrated with a "one team" mentality.
2) Vulnerable and authentic- This great hire didn't pretend to be good at everything, asked for help, and showed up as their true self in every interaction. They were honest and owned their mistakes. Ultimately they were someone that people at the company felt they could go to with problems because they were a real human being.
3) Good sense of humor and positive outlook- people want to work with colleagues who lift them up and motivate them. This person didn't get bogged down by the negatives and tried to bring optimism and humor to tough situations.
4) Curious mindset and a desire to learn and be challenged- They were always asking questions to learn more and understand better. They challenged their assumptions and admitted when they were wrong. This person proactively took on new work to stretch their skills and experiences and constantly shared learnings with their team.
5) Receptive to feedback- Feedback is a gift! Working with someone who gives and receives feedback well is a valuable experience so you and your hires can build better relationships and improve your skills. I think feedback builds self-awareness and confidence.
6) Adaptable- Being an expert in some areas and generalist in others is usually very valuable. This person was a subject matter expert in certain things, but also had strong foundational skills and knowledge so they were easy to shift into new work or roles as the needs of the team changed. People who aren't too specialized or too generalized often make good managers or progress into new roles quickly because they can focus on priorities, train/develop others, and are agile with changing environments.
1) Confident, self-aware, and humble (no ego)- This person believed in themselves and spoke with confidence, which helped them to earn the trust of their team and partners. They were able to motivate people through that confidence and they didn't second guess their decisions. They were aware of their strengths and weaknesses and asked for help when they needed it. This person also shared credit with others and didn't seek affirmation or brag about their achievements. They shared in their teams wins and celebrated with a "one team" mentality.
2) Vulnerable and authentic- This great hire didn't pretend to be good at everything, asked for help, and showed up as their true self in every interaction. They were honest and owned their mistakes. Ultimately they were someone that people at the company felt they could go to with problems because they were a real human being.
3) Good sense of humor and positive outlook- people want to work with colleagues who lift them up and motivate them. This person didn't get bogged down by the negatives and tried to bring optimism and humor to tough situations.
4) Curious mindset and a desire to learn and be challenged- They were always asking questions to learn more and understand better. They challenged their assumptions and admitted when they were wrong. This person proactively took on new work to stretch their skills and experiences and constantly shared learnings with their team.
5) Receptive to feedback- Feedback is a gift! Working with someone who gives and receives feedback well is a valuable experience so you and your hires can build better relationships and improve your skills. I think feedback builds self-awareness and confidence.
6) Adaptable- Being an expert in some areas and generalist in others is usually very valuable. This person was a subject matter expert in certain things, but also had strong foundational skills and knowledge so they were easy to shift into new work or roles as the needs of the team changed. People who aren't too specialized or too generalized often make good managers or progress into new roles quickly because they can focus on priorities, train/develop others, and are agile with changing environments.
Laurie Pritchard, Ed. S., M.A.T.
Executive Trainer, Rocket Mortgage
72
Answers
Wilmington, North Carolina
Updated
Laurie’s Answer
Hi, Mia! What a great question!
Hiring is one of the most important things a leader can do to improve their organization. It is important to choose the right candidate who fits with the organization's culture and who has the skills needed to do the job well.
I used to be an elementary school principal, and I had the opportunity to hire several teachers over the years. One teacher stands out in my mind as the best hire I ever made! This teacher was newly graduated from college and was applying for her first teaching job. From the moment we started the interview, she stood out from all the other candidates. She was prepared for the interview and she could give specific examples to scenario-based questions that I asked. She was able to provide specific information when asked about her successes working as a student teacher and a long-term substitute. I was impressed by her interview and hired her.
Some people do very well in job interviews and then they don't perform as well as expected once they start in their job. This teacher not only interviewed well, she was an excellent teacher. She developed positive relationships with her students, every time I observed her classroom she demonstrated excellent teaching skills, parents spoke very highly of her, and she was able to help her students gain at least one year's worth of growth and sometimes more. Not a day went by where I didn't think she was the best hire I ever made. I'm proud of hiring this teacher because she has made a positive impact on several hundred students by now, and she continues to do so.
This teacher fit the definition of someone who was positive for the school's culture and had the skills needed to do the job well. I have been retired for over 4 years now and I still say hiring her was the best professional decision I ever made as a leader!
Hiring is one of the most important things a leader can do to improve their organization. It is important to choose the right candidate who fits with the organization's culture and who has the skills needed to do the job well.
I used to be an elementary school principal, and I had the opportunity to hire several teachers over the years. One teacher stands out in my mind as the best hire I ever made! This teacher was newly graduated from college and was applying for her first teaching job. From the moment we started the interview, she stood out from all the other candidates. She was prepared for the interview and she could give specific examples to scenario-based questions that I asked. She was able to provide specific information when asked about her successes working as a student teacher and a long-term substitute. I was impressed by her interview and hired her.
Some people do very well in job interviews and then they don't perform as well as expected once they start in their job. This teacher not only interviewed well, she was an excellent teacher. She developed positive relationships with her students, every time I observed her classroom she demonstrated excellent teaching skills, parents spoke very highly of her, and she was able to help her students gain at least one year's worth of growth and sometimes more. Not a day went by where I didn't think she was the best hire I ever made. I'm proud of hiring this teacher because she has made a positive impact on several hundred students by now, and she continues to do so.
This teacher fit the definition of someone who was positive for the school's culture and had the skills needed to do the job well. I have been retired for over 4 years now and I still say hiring her was the best professional decision I ever made as a leader!
Chloe Lee
Design Management
7
Answers
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Updated
Chloe’s Answer
The most successful individuals I've had the pleasure of bringing on board all share two key traits: a hunger for personal growth and strong soft skills.
1) This hunger for growth is a testament to their relentless pursuit of self-improvement. They find immense satisfaction in honing their skills and becoming better at what they do. This kind of motivation, which comes from within, is far more enduring than external motivators like salary or accolades. While these external factors are also important, they don't hold a candle to the powerful and lasting drive that comes from wanting to better oneself.
2) Soft skills, on the other hand, encompass emotional intelligence and abilities that aren't strictly technical. As you climb the career ladder, these skills become increasingly important. You may find yourself less involved in hands-on tasks and more in roles that require leading or managing others. While technical skills can be learned, soft skills often require time, experience, and a certain level of maturity to fully develop.
1) This hunger for growth is a testament to their relentless pursuit of self-improvement. They find immense satisfaction in honing their skills and becoming better at what they do. This kind of motivation, which comes from within, is far more enduring than external motivators like salary or accolades. While these external factors are also important, they don't hold a candle to the powerful and lasting drive that comes from wanting to better oneself.
2) Soft skills, on the other hand, encompass emotional intelligence and abilities that aren't strictly technical. As you climb the career ladder, these skills become increasingly important. You may find yourself less involved in hands-on tasks and more in roles that require leading or managing others. While technical skills can be learned, soft skills often require time, experience, and a certain level of maturity to fully develop.
Tony Riccobono
Technical Program Manager
18
Answers
Huntington Beach, California
Updated
Tony’s Answer
I have had many good hires over the years, plus a couple that were not so great. One common thread among my best hires was that they were referred to me as highly recommended by someone I trusted. A good interview will provide useful information and a general sense of a candidate's proficiency, character and attitude, but it's hard to really assess some things until you see the person in action.
My very best hire exhibited the following traits: 1) they took responsibility for their work, and specifically for determining what needed to be done and for overcoming the barriers that might have prevented completion of their tasks; 2) they communicated effectively, not just clearly but with the right amount of information at the right time with the right urgency and attitude; and 3) they were very good at developing relationships and trust with other people, both within and external to our company.
My very best hire exhibited the following traits: 1) they took responsibility for their work, and specifically for determining what needed to be done and for overcoming the barriers that might have prevented completion of their tasks; 2) they communicated effectively, not just clearly but with the right amount of information at the right time with the right urgency and attitude; and 3) they were very good at developing relationships and trust with other people, both within and external to our company.