If your candidate already has the skills you need for the job, so much the better. What you really need in a candidate, however, is the motivation to learn, the flexibility to try something new and a strong cultural fit.
In other words, you should be looking for attitude, fit and potential rather than just skills…skills can be taught.
To probe for attitude and potential, you need to draw from your behavioral interviewing skills training. You will want to learn if the candidate:
- Enjoys learning.
- Is open to new ideas and new experiences.
- Invites feedback from colleagues in order to improve performance.
- Overcomes challenges in order to achieve a goal.
- Can admit mistakes and learn from them.
- Communicates well with others.