Many times in an interview, a candidate will show you whatever you want to see as a hiring authority in a bid to impress you and get the job. It can be difficult to tell what’s real in a candidate and what’s a show. There are some key attributes that you can look for and glean out of a candidate in the interview in order to see if they are the right fit. Here are the top attributes to look out for in a candidate:

This skill is something you may have heard of your whole working life. Everyone is always asking for leadership skills. Why is leadership so important? This question goes beyond just what you may see on the surface. For example, if you are hiring for a lower level position that won’t be in leadership from the start at your company, leadership could seem like a useless attribute. It isn’t. Identifying potential leadership in lower-level employees is a way to invest in the future. You can save yourself time and money in the future if you can identify leadership skills before a person has even reached a position of leadership. They can grow with your company and that can be a great asset for you in the years to come.

Interview Question: What can you do to motivate a team?

Organization in an employee means more efficiency in the workplace and better results for your company. It also means that you will be able to count on this person to give them multiple assignments and they can organize them based on importance and get them done in a timely manner. This can go a long way in affecting your company’s bottom line.

Interview Question: Assigned to lead a new project, outline the steps that you’ve taken in the past, our would take in the future, to get the project on track and moving?

Communication skills are a key attribute of a successful employee. Dynamic speaking ability, using eye contact, and solid writing skills are vital to the successful communication between team members and you as an employer. The employee will be able to communicate openly and clearly with you and this builds powerful working relationships. These skills are especially important in the hiring of customer facing employees as they are the face of the brand and great communication skills can build your brand image.

Interview Question: What are you passionate about?

Emotional intelligence in a candidate can be a predictor of job performance. It’s a key attribute because it shows ability to work in teams and is a key indicator of a cultural fit within your company. Emotional intelligence in an employee can help your team gel more easily and can increase overall performance.

Interview Question: Tell me about a time where you collaborated and had to accept new ideas?

These are the attributes to look for in candidates while you are in the interviewing process. If you are finding it difficult to find candidates with these attributes, contact us and we can help put the best candidates in front of you.