Hiring people for your work Personal Characteristics criteria

Personal Characteristics

Personal characteristics can indicate how the candidate will approach
the job and how he or she might relate to coworkers.

• Analytical and creative abilities. A candidate’s abilities in these
two areas determine how he or she assesses problems and comes
up with new approaches to solving them.

• Decision-making style. Decision-making style is very individual.
Some people are extremely structured, analytical, and factbased;
others rely more on intuition. Some make decisions
quickly, while others ponder them for a long time. Some depend
on consensus, while others seek their own counsel. It is critical
to determine whether a particular style is required for success in
the job and, if so, what it is.

• Interpersonal skills. Since interpersonal skills and behavior are
intimately connected, understanding a candidate’s interpersonal
skills is an important part of the hiring decision process. To
determine which interpersonal skills are most appropriate for a
given position, think about the set of tasks that will be performed
in the position.Which traits will translate into good performance,
especially in view of the superiors, peers, and direct
reports with whom the person will interact? For example, a
controller should ideally be patient and formal, demonstrating
careful, cautious, detail-oriented behavior. For a sales manager,
high extroversion and low formality may be desirable.
4 Hiring and Keeping the Best People
The Hiring Process 5

• Motivation. The candidate’s personal goals, interests, energy
level, and job progression often demonstrate their level of motivation.
So ask yourself,“Does this job match the candidate’s personal
aspirations? Would he or she do the job with enthusiasm
and energy?