The success of an organization often depends on identifying top candidate qualities when hiring. When partnering with a staffing agency, clients are presented with pre-vetted, quality candidates for final interviews. During this final process, it is important to select candidates based on key qualities, technical skills, and cultural fit.
Top Candidate Qualities to Look For:
Clients’ perceptions of key qualities can vary, depending on the specific job description and industry. However, traits such as communication, professionalism, reliability, ambition, and critical thinking consistently rank as qualities searched for in an interview setting.
Assess Technical Skills
To assess technical skills effectively during the interview process, it’s essential to ask the right questions that directly relate to the candidate’s technical skills and experience. Pay close attention to keywords in their responses that demonstrate their proficiency.
Additionally, consider using skill assessments, such as whiteboard interviews or technical interviews that challenge candidates to think critically and problem-solve. Requiring coding tests or requesting a portfolio for review are ways to evaluate technical capabilities. Alternatively, online tests provide opportunities to assess their performance on tasks. Specific tasks, like typing assessments, can measure skills such as typing speed.
Don’t forget to research candidates and speak with their references, as past employers can offer valuable insights into the candidate’s expertise and commitment within the industry.
Evaluate Culture Fit
Evaluating culture fit when selecting quality candidates is essential for ensuring a productive and positive work environment. To assess this fit, you can utilize a variety of strategies during the interview process.
Incorporate interview questions that dive into the candidate’s values. In your role as the interviewer, it is advised to include questions designed to prompt candidates to discuss their values within the context of the workplace, enabling you to assess their fit within your organization’s culture.
During a behavioral interview, it is essential to include hypothetical questions to assess the candidate’s experiences and skills. Actively listening to responses to these questions helps you determine how candidates approach different situations. Behavioral interviews like these reveal a candidate’s critical thinking skills.
Additionally, connecting in casual conversations before and after interviews offers insights into a candidate’s personality, attitude, and character, while also revealing their level of professionalism.
Company culture is shaped by the existing staff, and current team members need to meet potential new hires. Giving team members the chance to assess candidates provides the hiring manager with valuable input.
Select Top Quality Candidates with a Staffing Agency
The process of selecting quality candidates for your organization is crucial. When your staffing agency sends you a list of candidates for the final interview phase, be sure to maximize positive impact for your organization by identifying top candidate qualities, assessing technical skills, and evaluating culture fit. Discuss staffing with Knowledge Services today to learn more.
