What Skills Do You Usually Look for When Hiring a New Employee?

[Xivid]

Hey everyone, I wanted to ask something that’s been on my mind lately. When you’re involved in hiring someone new to your team, what are the main skills or traits you look for? I’m not just talking about technical knowledge or degrees, but the kind of qualities that make someone a really valuable team member in the long run. For context, we’re a medium-sized team and everyone kind of wears multiple hats, so versatility is something I personally value. Curious to hear how others approach this—especially in different industries or company sizes.

[Erreggh]

I totally agree about curiosity. One of the most impactful hires I made was someone who didn’t tick every box on the resume, but during the interview, they asked incredibly specific questions about our workflows and even had suggestions based on what they’d read about our field. That kind of proactive thinking really stood out. Another thing I’ve started to prioritize is how people respond to feedback. It’s not even about “taking criticism well”—I think that phrase is thrown around too loosely—but more about whether they reflect and apply what they’ve learned. It shows they’re invested in improving both themselves and the team. Also, a small but important one: being reliable. It's surprisingly easy to overlook until you're dealing with missed deadlines or ghosted meetings.

[Xivid]

That’s a great question, and I think it really depends on the dynamics of the team and the type of projects you’re working on. For us, one of the big ones is adaptability. We’ve had a lot of shifts in project scope over the past year, and people who can adjust their approach without getting overwhelmed tend to thrive. I also pay close attention to how someone communicates, especially in writing. Since a lot of our collaboration happens remotely, being able to clearly articulate ideas or ask thoughtful questions makes a noticeable difference. And just generally, if someone shows curiosity—not just about the role, but about how other parts of the business work—it often signals that they’ll grow well with the team. Find more guides https://testlify.com/hr-recruitment-guide-for-perfect-employees/ where many questions will be covered