How can hirers be sure that they are selecting the ideal candidate for the job? e2i brings in recruitment agency BGC Group for clear tips.

What are some clues that hiring managers, employers, and organisations should look out for during the hiring process? Thankfully, BGC Group provides some answers to this age old question to help you identify an exceptional candidate. 

1. Candidates with varied skills and experiences 

According to a LinkedIn article, one major clue of a talented candidate lies in their resume itself. Other than skills (i.e. niche or relevant), employers should look out for clues that indicate a candidate’s aptitude and rapid learning abilities. Employers should also observe details such as promotions, company sponsored training opportunities, or even job title changes. 

​Still unsure of what to look out for in a candidate? Some hiring professionals recommend testing your candidates out with real-life inspired scenarios. That way, you’ll be able to better assess your interviewee’s skills. 

2. Received formal recognition within their career field  

Look out for signs of recognition that your candidate has received throughout their years. Formal recognition can vary from bonuses and appraisal letters, to awards and prizes received during a company event. If you can’t find these on the interviewee’s resume or LinkedIn profile, try asking them during the interview. 

3. Has great references  

Needless to say, the best employees work great with others. Teamwork is an essential skill as most jobs require some level of collaboration, managing, or even supervising others. Try finding out if your candidate is good with teamwork when chatting with their references. 

Other qualities and skills to lookout for when interviewing your candidate’s references include:

• Good communication skills: Great communication skills may not refer solely to eloquence in speech. It just means that a candidate can communicate effectively to others, be it through their speech, text, and even emails. Communication is essential. Candidates with troubling communication skills might not fare well at the job.
• Adaptable: All organisations should look out for candidates with “great culture fit” potential. Workable suggests that team members decide together what makes a fitting candidate for their particular organisation. What “great culture fit” is differs from company to company. Look for job candidates that you find to be the most adaptable. You’d want to find people who are calm under pressure, quick to think of solutions, and are open-minded to different personalities and working styles. 
• Motivated individuals: Motivated candidates are passionate candidates. Ask around to find out if the candidates are driven. Self-motivated jobseekers are great as they’re looking to complete the job by utilising the resources they have at hand.
• Lifelong interest in learning: Jobseekers with a willingness to learn are a valuable resource to any organisation. New technology, courses, and knowledge are rapidly surfacing. Candidates self-motivated enough to continually upskill themselves make good hires. Remember, whoever doesn’t learn risks staying behind.  

4.  The interview was a breeze 

Glassdoor, on the other hand, believes that the secret to finding an exceptional hire lies in the job interview. They believe that some good signs to look out for during an interview include: 

• Honesty: Honest candidates are ideal as you’d want candidates who are open about their weaknesses and be willing to change. Those who don’t hold back when they’re asked the tough questions are priceless.
• Enthusiastic: If your candidate shows great enthusiasm during the interview, it’s usually a great sign. Enthusiasm can be seen in more than just your candidate’s words. Look out for hand gestures, and listen to the tone of their voice. Enthusiastic employees are prized because enthusiasm shows genuine interest in the industry and field.
• Knowledgeable: Knowledgable candidates should be prized simply because they’ve clearly done the research needed (e.g. on the organisation, the industry, the job role). You’d want an all-rounded candidate passionate both about the hard facts and the intricate knowledge about the company. 

If you’re a business, consider partnering e2i to address your manpower needs and attain higher productivity for your team. Read more about or speak to us to discern which of our services — recruitment, training, or job redesign — best meets your organisation’s direction.

​​Article adapted from local recruitment agency, BGC Group’s blog.