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When Diligence is Annoying & Imagination is Absurd
As talent recruiters, our vocabularies are often teeming with words like “dutiful,” “bold,” “reserved,” and other terms used to describe a candidate’s work ethic and attitude. But it’s not just about having such a plethora of words at our disposal – it’s equally vital to understand exactly what such expressions indicate about an applicant’s likelihood of productivity and cultural “fit.”
Consider the word “imaginative.” For some people, this indicates an ability to sit at a desk all day, dreaming about completely irrelevant topics. For others, however, it marks a creative passion, a will to redefine that which already exists. Of course the prior is only going to give you a lot of headaches and will likely lead to high turnover. But the latter is a highly desirable asset, sparking innovation and improving a company’s competitive advantage.
For another example, let’s inspect the word “dutiful.” At first glance, this seems like a word devoid of any negative connotations, but, alas, a candidate described by references as extremely dutiful can indeed be a precarious person. Ever heard of a “yes man?” Such individuals often overpromise and under deliver, and in the course of overlooking their own interests, tend also to overlook those of their subordinates. Placing such an individual in a high power managerial position can be detrimental, if not treacherous, as they’re more adept at obediently following than authoritatively leading.
By now you’re likely wondering how to tell when a word like imaginative is a good thing and when it is an indicator that you should keep looking. The answer is simple: be specific! In addition to leveraging the predictive nature of personality assessment software, recruiters should utilize reference and interview questions that require specific answers entrenched in examples from past performance. Right now, you can take advantage of Chequed.com’s automated reference checking software for no cost! Simply click here for your 30-day free license.
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