Recruiter Confessions
Top 3 traits of a great candidate
3 years in recruitment, working with various industries, for different positions and levels, from C-level executives to domestic and agricultural workers. I get to meet, on and offline, with many types of people, from unique backgrounds and combinations of skills, common and uncommon educational backgrounds coming from all around the globe; Cyprus, Greece, France, Egypt, Russia, North Africa, The Philippines, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and others.
When it comes to candidates, the truth is their experience and matching skills and knowledge for a role is probably the first thing I look for. Having a relevant background in regards to studies or qualifications as well as a relevant professional background increases their possibilities of being the “perfect match”. Finding the right candidate is not limited to their resume however, exploring their pure interest in a role, and their personality is a routine step before proceeding to the next phase.
But what’s the perfect match?
Does the perfect match even exist?
Even if the perfect match exists, is it possible to find it?
All these questions pop into my head while searching for potential candidates, but instinctively I always end up emphasising 3 special characteristics that I find the most attractive in a candidate.
1) Philotimo (Greek: φιλότιμο). Now let me tell you a few things about philotimo. Based on Mpampiniotis (2008), philotimo is defined as “the special susceptibility, the conscientious effort to perform a task”. That may not say much to you, but a person with philotimo always goes above and beyond to do whatever is best to complete a task or help an individual. As a recruiter, but at the same time an employee, a colleague, a friend, a daughter and a sister, philotimo touches my soul. I think it’s one of the characteristics that could make the world a better place for everyone. Therefore philotimo, is definitely one of my top 3 characteristics a candidate or a person should have.
2) Appreciation: Whatever is given, should be appreciated! Either good or bad, a person should appreciate what the other provides, or the lesson that should be learnt from a not so positive experience. That could be attention, support, understanding, communication, consultation, even salary, or a feedback. However, appreciation does not mean that anyone must tolerate a toxic, unhealthy environment, or live under conditions of oppression and exploitation.
3) Respect: Probably my number 1 element a person should be able to express to build a healthy and beneficial relationship. Respect to the employer, the employee, colleagues, partners, clients, the workplace, to the efforts each one makes and above all respect to ourselves. I truly believe that respect for anyone or anything comes from deep inside, from learning to respect ourselves, first. However respect for ourselves does not automatically translate into getting easily offended by the words, beliefs or habits of others.
As Hermann Hesse states
“We are sun and moon, dear friend, we are sea and land. It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honour him for what he is: each the other’s opposite and complement.”.
Concluding, philotimo, appreciation and respect complete my top 3 characteristics that not only a candidate should ideally have, but a person as an individual, as well.
These are what make a person stand out for me as a recruiter and a person, not their face, their hair or supposedly great achievements as listed on their CV!
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