There is something that is much more scarce, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability. ~ Robert Half
A resume says one thing; the person behind it says even more. Leading an executive search firm, I have hired and placed hundreds of people and have learned that you must recruit The Person versus The Rolodex or The Skills. An employee may have the greatest technical or on-the-job knowledge imaginable, but if he or she cannot hold a conversation or communicate or “play well” with others – particularly the boss – there is going to be a problem. People who share values and worth ethic always tend to gel into a cohesive team.
This goes for a placement firm, such as my own, or any other type of company. But at a staffing company, where people are my business, any problem with an employee we place trickles back down to me. And that person affects the quality of my business and our reputation. So it is with that in mind that we look through the resume and get to know the person behind it.
If you’re a small business owner who is looking to hire in order to grow and expand your company, then take the time to get to know the candidates and resist the temptation to hire fast even if you need someone immediately. If this is not your forte, then find someone who can objectively and properly interview the candidates to verify skills and experience but to also gain a solid understanding of true talents, passion and values. Recruiting firms like ours interview people every single day in order to do one thing: match the right candidate to the right job.
Robert Half, founder of the international staffing agency, said it best:
There is something that is much more scarce, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.
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You advice applies to businesses regardless of the level for which one is hiring. We regularly advise business owners hiring staff to spend time with candidates; more than just a brief 30 minute interview. At the end of the day, every employee represents the employer in a variety of ways: Does it make sense to only spend 20 minutes vetting a person that can have such tremendous impact on a business?