Continuing on the route I’ve chosen for the next few blog posts, I am highlighting another ideal quality for a new employee. This week it’s “The Right Fit”.
Many know “The Right Fit” when they see it. A candidate that possesses that certain something that propels them over someone with a similar resume. But how do you dissect and label the characteristics of someone who just “fits well” with your company? Allow me to attempt to explain.
The recipe for The Right Fit most often boils down to corporate culture, cooperation with others and a healthy dose of self-awareness.
No company is without a corporate culture. The best companies are acutely aware of theirs. New employees whose personalities compliment those of their immediate team members are more likely to “fit in”. They will be more comfortable asking for assistance or offering to chip in on a project that may need a hand.
The ideal new employee is sensitive to the boundaries of the office, observing and noting the nuances of management right away. What does this look like? Good employees ask for meetings and follow-ups with their supervisors. Great employees learn their manager’s slower days at work and arrange for time on those.
Another characteristic is cooperation with others. Can a new employee get along? Will they help out beyond their job duties early into their new position? Will they show enthusiasm for their new company? Some of this is detectable during an interview, but some of it comes from knowing your present team before a new hire is selected. Is it likely the introvert would like a loud and boisterous teammate? Will an interviewee’s ego allow them to share the spotlight or give credit to the company? When hiring, we consider if the potential employee will play well with others. This focus is mostly on current staff personalities but we keep an eye towards future staff and needs of the company.
The last variable in finding “The Right Fit” is a bit of self awareness. Everyone has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. We look for new hires that are already aware of some of them. We hire a patchwork quilt of individuals to service our customers’ projects and pairing teams up based on their ability to support each other is very important.
Any qualities you find in “The Right Fit” but you don’t find here? I’d love to hear them! I look forward to your responses and feedback.
