Why I No Longer Depend on Resumes

Imagine the irony of internal hiring issues at a staffing agency! When I founded HIRE Strategies I utilized traditional hiring practices like filtering resumes with keywords and focusing on qualifications. It wasn’t until I looked at the team I had created that I realized my mistake. The team I made was a collection of resumes, not people chosen for their potential and ability to create an amazing team. This realization marked a significant shift in how I sourced candidates both internally and externally! This is what has allowed me to find exceptional internal employees and source external candidates that my clients didn’t even know they needed.

Within this shift I realized that it was time to pivot the focus from qualifications alone to aligning with the company's vision and values. I started looking for candidates who's behavioral and mindset profiles matched our needs, often outweighing their formal qualifications. Once I reshaped the way I looked at hiring, I created a process that reflected this new mindset. Interviews were now less formal ordeals meant to check a box, and more an open conversation that allowed us to see the candidate holistically! We delved into candidates' aspirations, passions, and long-term personal goals. We introduced assessments that provided insights into their behavioral traits and helped both us and potential hires understand whether a role was a good fit.

We adopted a more deliberate approach, ensuring everyone involved shared the same goals. The result? A dynamic team that not only possesses the necessary skills but also shares our vision and works cohesively to achieve personal and professional success. We pride ourselves on recognizing quality candidates beyond their degree or experience.

When I talk to fellow business owners about how to ensure they build a strong team, these are some of the top tips I share:

1. Establish a Clear Company Vision: Make sure your company's vision includes its strategic objectives, serving as a guiding light for hiring decisions.

2. Embrace Core Values: Integrate your core values into your team culture, making them a practical part of your decision-making process.

3. Define Desired Behaviors: Craft job descriptions that outline the behavioral attributes necessary for success in the role.

4. Prioritize Trainability: Assess what level of experience is truly essential for the role and what can be taught to an ideal candidate with the right mindset and talent.

5. Fair Compensation: Ensure that your salary and compensation packages are competitive within your industry and region.

6. Ask Insightful Questions: Develop interview questions that provide a deeper understanding of the candidate's mindset and alignment with your organization's goals.

We've shifted from "Matching Resumes to Jobs" to "Intentional Hiring for Exceptional Retention." By emphasizing mindset and talent and redefining our hiring approach, we're not just filling roles; we're building a team ready to thrive in today's ever-changing professional landscape.