One Spring Break from college, our daughter brought her boyfriend home to meet us. After spending a week together, she asked me, “What do you think of ___?” All I said was that he was very nice but that I didn’t want to see her settle.

The next morning, the phone rang, and our daughter was sobbing. Very concerned, I immediately said, “What’s wrong?” She replied, “I’M SETTLING!”

Today she is married to her right match, and they have a beautiful five-year-old daughter. Over the years, we have mentioned that moment, and she always says, “I am so glad I didn’t settle.”

Authenticity in Relationships and Hiring

Just as with dating, the right career match often becomes a choice between continuing a subpar relationship or going through a painful separation in the hope of obtaining something better.

With a potential new hire, there should be no reason not to introduce them to others within the team. Other teammates in the organization will bring forth potential challenges that may occur in the future.

Following an interview, asking yourself and your team to replay the interview while asking the following questions will offer insight in the decision-making process.

1. Do their values align with yours?

If one of your core values is accountability, asking questions during the interview to verify their view of what accountability means will help eliminate ambiguity and help reach mutual understanding.

Many people think accountability just means self-management. Most companies describe accountability as owning your responsibility for your actions, behaviors, performance, and decisions.

When interviewing to verify, ask questions such as:

• Tell me about a time where you missed a deadline.
• Tell me about a time where you could have reacted differently.

If a candidate tries to justify bad behavior, they have a challenge with accountability.

2. Do they have technology skills equivalent to the others in your organization?

If everyone at your company is skilled in Excel and typing, a new hire should share those same aptitudes. You may ask interview questions such as:

• Tell me about the technology you use daily in the workplace?
• Who trained you on the use of that technology?
• What did you use that technology for?
• Was there ever a time when technology was challenging for you?

3. Do they have any working-hour restrictions?

Quite often companies forget to ask this question and then find that their new hire is used to a different routine that works better for them and their family. Asking questions such as “What does a typical workday look for you?” and “Do you have any limitations with your work schedule?” will help uncover differentiators in routine that may affect their or their teammates’ work performance.

4. Are they used to dressing like you prefer?

If you have a required dress code, and they are coming from a less formal environment, problems could arise once you have onboarded them. You can address this by reviewing your policy with them during the interview process. Piercings and tattoos are often removed and covered during interviews for management roles. If you have restrictions in place, it is better to address them up front rather than during their onboarding process.

5. Do they communicate with the detail you prefer?

Communication is the key to success in any relationship, but differences in communication styles could cause problems. Everything DiSC® is a tool you can use to determine the best fit within your company and help your whole team communicate more effectively with one another.

Consequences of Hiring Out of Necessity

Settling happens when you select a candidate out of necessity, thinking you can navigate red flags later. More often than not, the relationship will be short-lived and undesirable.

“In determining the right people, the good-to-great companies placed greater weight on character attributes than on specific educational background, practical skills, specialized knowledge, or work experience.”—Jim Collins

Just as with dating, if either party has to fundamentally change who they are to continue the relationship, it is definitely settling.

When it is meant to be, it all comes together.

Suzanne Breistol