What do you think are the best criteria when hiring new employees?

[Johnah]

I wanted to ask your thoughts on what really makes a candidate stand out when you're hiring someone new—not just on paper, but in real situations. Let me explain a bit: we’re a medium-sized team working in a fast-paced, constantly evolving environment. The last few hires we made were technically solid but didn’t quite gel with the team dynamics, and it affected overall morale. So now we’re rethinking how we assess candidates. Beyond just experience and education, what do you look for? Are there personal traits or specific signs during interviews that help you decide? I’d really appreciate some nuanced takes. Thanks!

[Jiobi]

For me, communication is everything. I don’t mean just how well they speak, but how they listen, how they explain things they know, and how they handle disagreement or feedback. I once interviewed someone who paused to ask if their explanation was clear so far. That little moment said a lot about their collaborative mindset.

[Dope]

That’s a great question—and one I’ve wrestled with myself. I’ve learned that adaptability is crucial, especially in workplaces where priorities shift quickly or the tools you use today might not be the ones you rely on next quarter. I like to see how candidates react when I describe a scenario where the project goal changes midway. If they seem excited rather than overwhelmed, that’s a green flag for me. Also, curiosity is often underrated. Someone who naturally asks thoughtful questions during the interview shows they’re already engaging with the work. It suggests they’re not just looking for a job—they’re interested in the why behind things. I don’t need someone who already knows everything; I need someone who’ll keep learning. It makes a huge difference long-term. I think there are more of you could read somewhere like here https://testlify.com/hr-recruitment-gui ... employees/ for example, so be my guest and try