Beyond Skills: What Makes a Candidate Truly Stand Out?
Publié le 24 September 2024
Stand out to hiring managers by understanding what makes a candidate truly stand out beyond skills in the hiring process.
While it’s crucial to consider candidates with the right skills and experience when hiring, simply ticking the boxes on a job description isn’t enough.
You must prioritize hiring and retaining employees who bring something more to the table—those with traits that set them apart and make them invaluable assets to your organization.
This realization begs the question: what makes a candidate truly stand out?
Attributes like adaptability and a genuine enthusiasm for work can be the difference between a good hire and an exceptional one.
In this article, let’s dive deeper into other characteristics that make a candidate stand out in the job market so that you can hire the best people for the job.
What Makes a Candidate Truly Stand Out?
According to a Statista survey, the major hiring challenge recruitment professionals faced in 2023 was tight talent pools.
This can happen due to a high demand for specific skills or a shortage of workers with the necessary qualifications. It’s more important than ever to identify, hire, and retain the right talent which is why you should know what qualities to look for and how to identify them.
Here are some more qualities that make a candidate truly stand out:
Strong Work Ethic and Initiative
Most candidates highlight great work ethic as one of their strong suits in their resumes and applications. But how many can actually demonstrate these qualities when given a chance?
As a recruiter, it’s crucial to look beyond the buzzwords and dig deeper into how candidates have exhibited a strong work ethic and initiative in their past roles.
During job interviews, ask candidates about specific situations where they’ve shown initiative, faced challenges head-on, or worked tirelessly to achieve a goal. Their ability to provide concrete examples will set them apart.
Candidates who demonstrate a strong work ethic and initiative can inspire others and drive your organization forward.
Understanding and Proficiency with Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has become a crucial technology in the current job scenario. It helps bring better results with minimum effort and cost. Thus, even the candidates must be aware of the latest AI technology and its applications.
For example, a candidate who knows how AI headshots can help and creates professional headshots can be advantageous to the team as they know how to leverage AI when required.
Willingness to Learn New Skills
About 66.8% of organizations rate curiosity and lifelong learning as a crucial attribute that will continue to gain popularity in the future.
Image via Statista
While an applicant’s current expertise is important, being open to facing new challenges and adapting to the latest technologies is what makes them truly stand out.
For instance, as explained in the Attrock guide, in the age of AI, a candidate open to learning about advanced customer service chatbots might make a great addition to your team. It is even possible to use AI job application tools to help streamline the process, as long as you remember to add your own unique touch before submitting.
To sustain and grow their careers, professional graphic designers must learn the latest AI headshot creation technology. This will help them upgrade their skills and save time creating professional AI headshots for different social media profile pictures.
When evaluating candidates, look for those who demonstrate a proactive approach to learning. Whether it’s through taking online courses or participating in industry workshops, these candidates show that they’re dedicated to continuous development.
Problem-Solving Ability
When a problem occurs, you don’t want an individual who sits back and waits for others to find a solution. Instead, you should choose one who can quickly analyze the issue and develop practical solutions. This attribute is what makes a candidate truly stand out.
For instance, if productivity is declining, a problem solver will quickly assess the situation. If there’s no system in place to track productivity levels, they may suggest installing a desktop time tracker on every device to monitor employee behavior.
Here are some tips for identifying candidates with problem-solving skills:
- Ask them to describe specific instances where they faced a significant challenge and how they resolved it.
- Present candidates with problems that your organization has faced and observe their thought processes, creativity, and how they approach the problem.
Resilience and Stress Tolerance
Stating on your resume that you can work well under pressure is all well and good, but many other candidates do the same.When it comes down to it, only a chosen few can deliver their promise.
While it can be difficult, handling a stressful job effectively and maintaining performance under pressure is what makes a candidate truly stand out. A candidate who can bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity is equally unique.
To find your ideal employee, nudge candidates to share specific examples of where they faced challenging situations and how they overcame these challenges through hard work and dedication.
Passion and Enthusiasm
According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report, actively disengaged employees stick to jobs they dislike for economic purposes. However, this means they have no interest or enthusiasm to do what’s required of them.
On the other hand, candidates who are genuinely passionate about what they do are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and productive.
For example, if you are a recruiter for an executive or career coaching firm, you’ll want to attract a candidate with a level of enthusiasm that goes beyond fulfilling job requirements. Someone passionate about the latest coaching industry trends, tech advancements, and best practices would be an ideal choice.
During job interviews and interactions, pay attention to how candidates present themselves. Enthusiastic candidates will engage actively in the conversation and show genuine interest.
Flexibility and Quick Adaptability
A rigid stick breaks under pressure, but a flexible reed bends with the wind. In this context, employees who resist change may miss out on career growth and opportunities. Those who are adaptable can handle challenges and succeed.
The ability to quickly adapt to new situations, learn new technologies, and adjust to changing priorities is what makes a candidate truly stand out.
For example, bookkeepers applying at a startup company should show enthusiasm for learning startup bookkeeping practices and processes to cater to the unique needs of a growing business. This is how they show that they can thrive in their roles and contribute to the company’s agility.
Cultural Fit
Another crucial characteristic that makes a candidate truly stand out is if they fit the culture of the company.
A candidate who aligns with your company values and team dynamics is more likely to become proactive, contribute positively, and stay with the organization longer.
They can work more harmoniously with their colleagues, adapt more easily to your operational processes, and embody the company’s ethos in their daily work.
Assess cultural fit by asking questions that reveal a candidate’s preferred work environment, their approach to teamwork, and how they handle conflicts. Pay attention to their responses and see how they align with your company culture.
Wrapping Up
When evaluating potential hires, look beyond just the technical skills and experience listed on resumes. What makes a candidate truly stand out is their strong work ethic, initiative, willingness to learn, problem-solving ability, resilience, passion, flexibility, and critical thinking.
Prioritize these traits in the hiring process to build a team of employees who are not only skilled but also motivated, adaptable, and capable of driving the organization forward. As the job market evolves, these standout qualities will become the standard procedure for identifying the best candidates for any position.
