What characteristics are you looking for when thinking about someone joining your staff/team?

What characteristics are you looking for when thinking about someone joining your staff/team? (I know there are the obvious - dependability, professionalism, common sense etc)

Sense of humor

Adaptability and solutions oriented.

Beyond the obvious, I’m looking to maintain my office culture. I want to see how an applicant may fit in with my team.

Tony Mino I’m with you, I can teach anything but if they don’t fit with the team and community it will never work.

Dedication and compassion

Betch or nah

Attitude is key. Positive/Optimistic outlook on the world & a true servants heart.
Not taking themselves too seriously - sense of humor is important too...
What strengths do they have that might be lacking in current team. Balancing skills and personalities is important. We don’t need 5 super energizer bunnies throwing glitter everywhere ....just like we don’t need 5 people with OCD making sure all the glitter is picked up... we need balance
Everything else can be trained.

Simon Sinek "Start with Why" - great read before you add to your team.

If I have to pick one- its attitude. I can teach anyone the "job". Sometimes it depends on who's already on the team. Its situational to make a complete fit. I can't have 10 quiet people but I also can't have 10 outgoing people either. Always think of the team and how someone fits in or can build upon the team. Its hard to find a but easy to build one if you know your teams strengths and weaknesses.

I always ask the same questions.
Give me an example of dealing with an irate customer/resident and how you deescalated the situation?
Give me an example of how you have or would upsell a customer?
Give me an example of overcoming an objective with a customer or resident where you could not give them what they wanted?
Then I ask them to rate themselves 1-10 with different skillsets like customer service, social media, administration paperwork, marketing etc

Natalie I like to ask what their greatest weakness is to see how honest they’ll be. I like to preface their answer with a personal example from me.

I ask for an example when they were on a team and what part they played.

Took for the intangibles! Things that simply can’t be trained.
Like an amazing smile and depending on the position, the ability to make each and every person they come into contact with feel as if they are THE MOST important person they’ve seen all day. (Or beautiful or well dressed)
Some attempt this and come off as horribly fake.
Genuinely caring about mankind ...
I look for who can DO THE JOB while being amazing too!!!
The rest falls into place.

Problem-solving. Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult person.

For a manager, it's determining their leadership style ( and that they are a leader). It's so easy to be distracted by the daily issues but the leader needs to be able to reset the team daily to keep the ship sailing in the right direction.

Resiliency and emotional maturity.

Oh - one more, a deal breaker for me.
I look for confidence (Not arrogance) Insecurity is one of the most dangerous attributes in a person & I don’t want it anywhere in my team.

Can and does learn. Great questions for getting that:
What’s the last few books, podcasts, classes you did?
Something you didn’t know before this year?
Something you taught others to do?
Your favorite life hack?

The ability to listen. Residents only want two things from Management, someone to fix their stuff right the first time and someone to listen to them.

Problem solve.

Willingness to take direction and learn new things out of their comfort zone, perseverance, and a true heart for service.

Great comments! Don't forget, though, that they should also be a good fit within the existing team. If you KNOW that the perfect candidate will not get along with the others, maybe they're not perfect for the job. If you foresee friction, it's just not worth it.

Strengths to complement your team's weaknesses. Can do attitude.

Willing and able HUGE

Honest and hard working.

Positive and dependable

Will they fit into your company culture...do they have the right attitude...do they put in their work with their heart...Are they coachable...can they sell and close...

Coachability, easy to get to know, competitive but team focused.