Have you seen how some interviews feel smooth and enjoyable, while others just don’t work out? Even when you’re ready and ask the right things, sometimes the candidate doesn’t fit well, while other times, someone shows surprising skills.

It's like this: you can find people who have all the skills you’re looking for, but they might not be the best choice. Sometimes, the best people for the job are the ones who don’t know everything yet, but they’re eager to learn and grow. That’s what makes them special! Even if they don’t check every box, their willingness to learn can make them better in the long run.

Have you ever picked someone who surprised you by how much they improved after they started?

Recently, I had an interesting chat with a coworker about our experiences with hiring people. We realized something important: we've been interviewing people the wrong way!

For a while, we looked for candidates who matched everything we wanted. We wanted someone with a perfect résumé—someone who had all the skills and experience we needed. It made sense at the time; if someone already knows everything, they should be the best choice, right?

Not really. The greatest people I’ve hired didn’t always have perfect résumés. They picked up new skills fast, adjusted easily, and wanted to get better.

The Story of a "Less Than Perfect" Candidate

Let me tell you a personal story that shows how my thinking changed.

While searching for a new employee, I met a candidate who didn’t have every skill we wanted. They only had three out of the five important skills we wanted. This made me stop and think, "Should I keep looking for someone else?" But there was something special about this person that caught my attention.

One of their skills came from an unusual place: helping in their community, not from a job. Normally, this wouldn’t be seen as important in hiring. But what impressed me was that they learned this skill on their own, outside of work, because they were curious and committed. Even though their résumé wasn’t perfect, their passion for learning and growing stood out to me.

In the end, I hired them. And guess what? It was one of the best choices I made. Over time, they didn’t just do what was expected—they did even better! They learned fast, improved their skills, and brought new ideas that helped us solve problems in a better way.

Why Hiring for Growth Is Crucial for Leadership Roles

I realized that it’s important to find candidates who can improve and adapt, rather than just those who have all the skills listed. This is especially true for leaders. Good leaders need to be flexible, always learning, and open to new ideas. In today’s fast-changing world, knowing a lot is not as important as being willing to learn and adapt to the company.

When we concentrate too much on checklists and making sure a candidate has every requirement on paper, we might miss people who can grow into the job and do even more. Usually, those who want to learn can add more value than those who think they already know everything.

Why A Lack of Questions Can Signal a Poor Fit

Another important thing I've learned is to watch out for candidates who agree with everything without asking any questions. These are the people who just nod along to every requirement. While this might seem nice because they are easy to get along with, it can be a warning sign.

The best candidates are those who recognize their weaknesses and aren't afraid to question how things are usually done. They understand that nobody is perfect and are willing to take smart risks. This attitude is really important for leaders because making decisions without thinking about possible problems can lead to big issues later on.

During an interview, a candidate asked numerous questions about our goals. At first, it surprised me, but I soon saw that they were genuinely thinking about how to make a positive impact. They weren't afraid to challenge my thoughts and showed great enthusiasm to learn.

The Best Hires Show Potential, Not Perfection

So, what does this all mean? It means that the best people to hire aren’t always the ones who meet every single requirement. Instead, they are the ones who show they can grow, recognize what they need to learn, and want to improve. These candidates will often do more than what you expect and can surprise you with how well they adapt and change in your company.

The next time you’re interviewing someone, try to look beyond the list of requirements. Ask yourself: can this person grow in this job? Are they willing to learn and change? Are they excited about facing challenges and improving their skills?

The answers to these questions can tell you more about how successful the candidate will be than any list of qualifications.

Share Your Stories

Have you ever hired someone who surprised you by how much they grew? What unique qualities did your best employee show?

Sometimes, the candidate who looks best on paper isn't the one who performs well. Have you hired someone who eventually fits in perfectly? What made them special? Let’s share our experiences and rethink how we approach interviews and hiring!"

If we change our thinking from "Who is the most qualified now?" to "Who can grow the most?", we can find amazing talent and value in our organizations.