5 Hidden Gems to Unearth in Candidate Interviews
Searching for great talent is a painstaking process, like looking for diamonds in a sea of well-polished stones. It is possible to miss genuine brilliance in the applicant selection process if you only pay attention to the outward manifestations of excellence, such as the polished interview style and shiny credentials. Discovering hidden treasures requires going beyond the obvious and listening for the small hints that indicate a candidate has the capacity to grow and make a difference.
Interviewers that are savvy will need to use a sophisticated strategy that employs intuition as a kind of divining rod to reveal hidden gems within the surface-level resumes and responses. So open the gate and go out on a voyage of exploration, for each applicant has a secret constellation of skills that are just waiting to reveal themselves and expand the possibilities for your team. The following five tactics can help you in your quest:
1. Seek the Spark of Passion, not just the Skillset:
While technical skills and a diverse experience are important foundational elements, genuine motivation is the real glue that holds extraordinary talent together. Look for the brilliant spark in a candidate's eyes as they dive into their work, not just the flicker of skill usage. Start discussions that take place in areas outside than the work description—personal projects, extracurricular activities, or any other area where their passion is strong. Do they have more enthusiasm than just the possibility of getting paid? Do they talk about their work with a contagious enthusiasm that betrays a genuine appreciation for the process? This innate enthusiasm is a powerful potion that fosters self-motivation, steadfast devotion, and an endless drive to go above and beyond expectations. Potential really begins to form in this crucible of built-in drive, promising not only skilful performance but also a constant determination to achieve and contribute at the highest possible level.
2. Listen to the Unspoken Language of Body Language:
Even with their great expressive power, words can only depict a portion of the situation. Develop your sense of a candidate's nonverbal orchestra: the nuanced expressions and gestures that convey their genuine mental state. Do their eyes flicker with anxiousness beneath the surface, or does their gaze carry a steady confidence? Do their shifting postures and fidgeting hands tell a tale of disengagement, or do they lean in with genuine interest? These unwritten exchanges provide an open and honest symphony of insights into a candidate's character, including their degree of honesty, resilience under duress, and depth of participation. You can have a deeper, more complex understanding of the person in front of you by training your ear to recognise this hidden language, which enables you to make judgements that go beyond the limitations of spoken words.
3. Unmask the Problem Solver, not just the Answer Machine:
Although well-written scripts and prepared speeches could receive brief applause, they don't have much of an impact on real problem-solving. Present complex concertos to quick thinkers, such as hypothetical problems or the very arias your team struggles with, to see how virtuosic they are. Take note of their method—not the dull droning of memorization, but the vivacious counterpoint of critical analysis, the perceptive fugue of information deconstruction, and the melodic crescendo of original solutions. Do they look for elucidating questions, going further into the complex score of the problem? Do they embrace the polyphony of possible methods and investigate other points of view? Above all, do they have a spirit of improvisation that allows them to easily adjust their approach and navigate through the unknown cadenzas of the unexpected? These are the distinctive characteristics of a master problem solver, a mind far more valuable than one limited by simple textbook tunes. Because real problem-solving has the capacity to not only carry out tasks but also to invent, to flourish in the face of contradiction, and to create unexpected answers that ring brilliantly.
4. Find the Value Driver - rather than merely the Job Seeker:
Financial concerns are undoubtedly significant, but they shouldn't be the only note in the piece of career goals. Explore further to determine the real drivers of their career path. What obstacles compel them to mastery and kindle their inner spark? Which educational experiences add the most value to their career and personal lives? What type of influence do they hope to infuse into their work, something that will endure beyond just payment? A candidate that is motivated by the inherent melodies of innovation, personal development, or making a positive impact is much more likely to contribute over time to the team and organization's overall harmony as well as their own personal success.
5. Embrace the Power of Curiosity, not the Comfort of Certainty:
Avoid creating inflexible interview structures or giving in to the temptation of preconceived assumptions. Rather, welcome the possibility of fortuitous findings and unforeseen perceptions that could reveal latent abilities or unleash untapped potential. Provide an environment that is conducive to open-ended questions by formulating follow-up inquiries that probe further into a candidate's initial response and ask them to expound on their experiences, motives, and mental processes. This agile methodology can uncover hidden treasures, revealing abilities or traits that might have remained hidden and adding unexpected capabilities and a diversity of perspectives to the fabric of your team.
Remember, the best candidates are not always the ones who boast the most impressive resumes or deliver the most polished answers. Sometimes, the most valuable gems lie in the quiet corners, waiting to be discovered by a discerning eye and a curious mind. By refining your interview approach, employing these strategies, and embracing the power of human connection, you can unlock a treasure trove of potential and uncover the hidden gems that will take your team to new heights.
