Why you're not always Right to Swipe Left

It can’t have escaped anyone that Valentine’s Day is looming, singletons everywhere are swiping left and right in search of their perfect match.  Online dating, much like recruitment, is desperately seeking perfection is difficult when only presented with 'on-paper' facts.  It is easy to overlook those who do not have the exact set of requirements, whether that be a preference for redheads, or 5 years of previous experience, discounting those without may be a mistake. 

We all have wish-lists of things we want and things we don’t, but being rigid in these requirements may be closing doors unnecessarily.  Much like romantic relationships, working relationships are dependent on compatibility, and we believe this is more important than a list of tick-boxes 

At Avocet we support clients looking for really strong customer service skills and the key is personality. We promote the 'hire attitude, train skills' ethos, crucial when creating a successful working environment. It is important to consider a candidate's compatibility with your workplace culture.

Skills can be learnt.  But it’s much harder to unlearn something, - the 'that's the way I’ve always done it' approach can be a real problem but an individual who is willing to take on board new skills, processes and absorb the culture can prove to be a superstar.

Of course, when presented with a CV, it is sometimes difficult to establish whether someone's ideals and values are compatible with your business model.  So interview, interview, interview. Interviews are not only your chance to establish someone's professional pedigree, but to understand them as a person. Look for:

• Problem solving
• People skills
• Critical thinking
• Emotional intelligence 

Tailoring your interview style to incorporate questions that display these values will be beneficial. Not as easy as it sounds!

Consider the great team members you already have - how would they react to a situation? How are they as people? Do you feel your candidate would mesh well with them?

Considering these things is proven to improve the likelihood of a successful placement and in our experience more important than being able to use a particular service desk tool.

So whether they be a willing-to-learn parent returning to work after a career hiatus, a recent school leaver with a can-do attitude or an older worker looking to learn some new skills, consider those that may not be perfect on paper. You may just find that elusive service desk superstar!