Top Skills to Look Out for on a Candidate’s CV

Hiring staff is all part of running a business. As your business grows, you will probably outsource the hiring and firing to an HR, but while the business is relatively small, the onus will be on you to find the right people. This task is actually not as easy as you might think. A CV gives you plenty of information, but if you have been inundated with applicants for a role, you need to be able to scan each one and identity the candidate’s key qualities. To make this easier, here is a quick guide to the key skills you should look out for.

Can the Candidate Drive?

Learning to drive is a very important skill, but not everyone takes the time to pass their driving theory and practical test. You may not consider a driver’s licence essential if the candidate lives locally, but consider that you may need that person to visit suppliers and clients, or even relocate to a new office further out of town. Without a car, how will they cope?

Communication Skills

Pay attention to the way the CV reads. There probably won’t be a huge amount of text on the page, since most people present the information in bullet points and restrict it to two pages max. However, what information is present should help you decide how good the person’s communication skills are. Do they sell themselves well – or is the information there so full of holes you have no idea who the candidate actually is?

IT Skills

IT skills are very important in today’s technology dominated world. Even supermarket checkout operators have to be able to use complex tills and product scanning equipment. If the candidate submits a poorly formatted CV, or ditches it in favour of a handwritten piece of paper delivered directly to your business address, it suggests their IT skills are a bit behind the times.

Is the Candidate a Team Player?

No matter what type of business you run, any successful candidate you hire will need to work with other people. For this reason, it helps if there is evidence on the CV that points towards the person being a team player. If they have worked as part of a team in previous roles, this is useful. Having an interest in team sports (playing not watching) is another good sign.

Does the Candidate Pay Attention to Detail?

A good attention to detail is important. Look over the candidate’s CV and see if there are any spelling mistakes or typos. Any candidate who submits a CV containing errors demonstrates a lack of attention to detail, which is a bit worrying.

Is the Candidate Loyal?

It is better for your business if you hire someone who is going to stick around for a while.  Any CV that shows the candidate has moved from one job to another every year is a red flag warning.

Scan CVs carefully and use them as a method of weeding out the most unsuitable candidates. This will make the interview process a bit easier.