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5 Personality Traits to Avoid When Looking for Employees

disinterested candidates

When you’re looking for employees for your business, education, experience, and skills are all important. But there are actually a few things to look for that are even more important.

The personality of any potential candidates should be one of the main things you focus on during an interview.

After all, this employee will need to fit in with other employees, work as a part of a team, and interact with management. A bad personality can create tension, lead to poor work, or cause other problems.

While you’re likely to notice the traits of a good personality, spotting a potentially bad one can be harder.

To help make sure that any potential candidates will fit in within your office, keep reading to learn about 5 personality traits that you should be on the lookout for.

1. A Need for Recognition

While it’s normal for people to try to talk about their accomplishments and achievements during an interview, beware of those who seem too eager to promote themselves.

A person who spends too much time bragging about every past accomplishment, and especially small accomplishments, is likely to need constant recognition in the workplace.

What you’ll get is an employee who needs to be recognized, even when they are simply doing their job.

2. Too Much Negativity

While it can be tough to judge a person’s personality based on how they act in an interview, it’s important to try.

If an interviewee seems overly negative or just generally unhappy, rather than simply nervous about the interview, think twice before you hire them.

Even if the negativity doesn’t necessarily directly affect their work, it will affect their ability to work as a team or be a member of an office. This can lead to tension between employees and distractions from work.

3. A Lack of Open-Mindedness

Even if a potential candidate will be doing the same thing they’re doing in their current or previous job, a lack of open-mindedness to change can be an issue.

After all, the demands of a job change over time with changes in the industry. An employee who is too set in their way of doing things may not be able to keep up with or adjust to those changes.

4. Too Quick to Blame Others

Whether you’re looking for employees for a massive corporation or a small business, finding team players is essential for building a healthy workplace.

If you notice that a candidate seems quick to place blame on others when you ask them about past work experiences, that may be a sign that they aren’t a good team player.

5. No Enthusiasm

While you don’t necessarily need an employee who is bouncing around with excitement during the interview, you also don’t want someone who is overly subdued.

Any potential employees should be excited about the new position. After all, they are applying for a reason, whether it be more money, the chance for advancement, or following a passion of theirs.

Energy is often the most sought-after trait that hiring managers look for. Make sure that you see at least a little of that energy and enthusiasm during the interview, or else you may end up with an unmotivated, undriven employee.

Using This Guide While Looking for Employees

Now that you know a few traits to be on the lookout for, it’s time to start searching for the right candidates for the job.

If you’re looking for even more help finding the right employees for the job, check out our direct hire services to see how they can help you find the perfect candidates for your open positions.