Category Archives: qualities

Technical Ability is No Guarantee of Success

Posted on June 25, 2009 by johanna

I just read Most Likely to Succeed: How do we hire when we can’t tell who’s right for the job? by Malcolm Gladwell. He talks about how a football recruiter agonized over his decisions: …“This guy threw lasers, he could … Continue reading →

Posted in audition, qualities, technical manager, technical skills | 2 Comments

Hire for Intangibles; You Can Teach Technical Skills

Posted on October 19, 2007 by johanna

A bunch of my clients are having trouble filling their positions. They can’t find a bazillion years of Java or .Net or something else. There is a relative candidate shortage, compared to the candidate glut of a few years ago. … Continue reading →

Posted in candidate, job analysis, qualities | 5 Comments

Curiousity is a Necessary Quality

Posted on March 11, 2007 by johanna

Last week, I was in Eindhoven, in the Netherlands. I arrived Sunday afternoon, and my host took me to the Van Abbemuseum, a museum of contemporary art. It was great.I geeked out in the elevator, however. We started at the … Continue reading →

Posted in qualities | 3 Comments

Evaluating Candidates’ Interpersonal Skills

Posted on April 25, 2004 by johanna

Sorin asks another great question: “So please enlighten me : how do you decide, with only interviews/auditions, whether a candidate will be a good addition to a team or a disruptive element“ I’m assuming you’ve already asked questions such as, … Continue reading →

Posted in interpersonal skills, interview question, qualities | Leave a comment

When to Drop Candidates Based on Qualities, Preferences, Skills

Posted on April 13, 2004 by johanna

Sorin’s comment got me thinking. How do you make the decision that a candidate’s technical skills aren’t worth the candidate’s lack of relationship, communication, listening, or some other soft skill? Esther was talking about collaborative teams, so someone who won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in interpersonal skills, job analysis, qualities, technical skills | Leave a comment

Discovering Liars Before You Hire Them: 6 Tips for the Hiring Manager

Posted on June 13, 2003 by johanna

Most people don’t lie on their resumes or in interviews. However, if you’re not sure about a candidate, here’s a checklist to help you detect the truth about a candidate: Always check references. I ask for a minimum of three … Continue reading →

Posted in candidate, qualities, reference | Leave a comment