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One of the most requested qualities in a candidate to the point that it sounds cliché is “team player”. Yet unless your company entails all employees working silently and independently, you truly do need to find those who work well with others, who understand the importance of give-and-take. So how do you find them in your vast sea of candidates?

 

  • Use all of your resources.

Use your clients and even your competitors to see what sort of talent is out there, as long as you do it carefully. Offer an incentive to clients such as great tickets to a Browns, Cavs, or even OSU game to give you names of potential talent they know about. You may gather quite a few names, and if you offer to do the same should the opportunity come up, you may find your next great team player.

 

  • Know what you’re looking for.

A true team player has these three qualities: humility, hunger, and emotional intelligence (the ability to connect with others). Look for the candidates who possess all three: The candidate who has only humility will get bulldozed by others and not stand up for himself; the hungry candidate is the bulldozer, pushing too much to get the job done and not working well with others; and the person who only has emotional intelligence will charm everyone but not necessarily focus on work. The candidate who has all three traits allows each to temper the others, making him the ultimate team player.

 

  • Ask the right questions.

To determine a team player, ask questions both subtle and obvious. First of all, ask how they feel about feedback. A negative answer tells you they can’t take criticism well, not a good sign for a team player. You may also want to ask how they give criticism to others. Ask what makes a good team player. The attributes the candidate gives you will tell you whether they play well with others or not. Finally, ask how they define good leadership. The one who talks about good communication and give-and-take knows how to work as a team; anyone who says leaders should not be questioned and simply obeyed may not make a good fit.

As you seek your next hire, look for the ones who will enhance your team and become a part of it best. For help with any hiring needs, visit PrideStaff.

 

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