As a Human Resources professional or hiring manager, are you taking the right steps to recruiting and hiring the best employees? As a job hunter, you must always be looking for ways to stand out from the pack. Popular business writer, Jeff Haden, lists eight qualities of “remarkable employees” – a group of people that go above and beyond, who are even better than great.
Haden highlights traits that don’t normally appear on a performance appraisal or a resume. Yet he builds a good case for why these intangible qualities are keys to success in the workplace. Haden, who spent years working as a manager in the manufacturing industry, has plenty of experience to draw upon.
Here are three qualities of remarkable employees that all recruiting and hiring managers should consider:
They’re always fiddling
Some people are constantly tinkering: reworking a timeline, adjusting a process, tweaking a workflow. Great employees follow processes. Remarkable employees find ways to make those processes even better; because they just can’t help getting involved.
They ignore job descriptions
The smaller the company, the more important it is that employees adapt quickly to shifting priorities, regardless of role or position. When a key customer’s project is in jeopardy, remarkable employees know without being told that there’s a problem and jump in without being asked—even if it is not their job.
They like to prove others wrong
Self-motivation often springs from a desire to prove the doubters wrong. Education, intelligence, talent and skill are important, but drive is critical. Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job.
Every workplace tends to have one or two people who fit this description, but not very many. That’s because most of the time we follow the rules and try to fit in, but not these folks. You can find the complete list of Eight Qualities of Remarkable Employees on Jeff Haden’s website.
If you want to recruit more people with these qualities, then consider whether you’re office or business is a place where remarkable employees will thrive. In my recent blog, So You Want to Hire an A Player, I point out that “A Players” want to work with other top performers. When hiring, remember that the candidate is also interviewing you. How will you attract a remarkable employee? Can you demonstrate that their input will be valued, their innovations encouraged?
If you’re looking for a job, think about how you’ve been a remarkable employee and be prepared to give examples in an interview. Still, you’ll need to gauge whether the example fits the job position and business culture. Not all employers will agree with Mr. Harden on who makes a great hire.