An Influencer series on LinkedIn has seen some of the world’s top businesspeople – including Richard Branson and Lex Fenwick – reveal their hiring techniques. Would your brokers be up to scratch?
An Influencer series on LinkedIn has seen some of the world’s top businesspeople – including Richard Branson and Lex Fenwick – reveal their hiring techniques. Would your brokers be up to scratch?
Fenwick: people, not resumes
Dow Jones CEO Lex Fenwick cuts right to the chase: “Resumes are puff pieces. They’re written by an individual, about the individual.”
While a resume might match the job the recruiter is looking to fill, looking good on paper doesn’t often mean they’ll fit the position or management style. Using a resume as a starting point will often lead you to those with a lot of qualifications who can do the job with their eyes closed, but that isn’t good. Instead, grow your network constantly and seek out individuals who can bring something new to the position – you have to be different to be successful.
Branson: Focus on personality
Corporate rockstar Richard Branson stated that he hires based primarily on personality. Branson stated that most skills can be learned, but it is difficult to train personality.
“Personality is the key. It is not something that always comes out in an interview – people can be shy,” he advises. “But you have to trust your judgement. If you have got a slightly introverted person with a great personality, use your experience to pull it out of them. It is easier with an extrovert, but be wary of people becoming overexcited in the pressure of interviews.”
Fenwick: people, not resumes
Dow Jones CEO Lex Fenwick cuts right to the chase: “Resumes are puff pieces. They’re written by an individual, about the individual.”
While a resume might match the job the recruiter is looking to fill, looking good on paper doesn’t often mean they’ll fit the position or management style. Using a resume as a starting point will often lead you to those with a lot of qualifications who can do the job with their eyes closed, but that isn’t good. Instead, grow your network constantly and seek out individuals who can bring something new to the position – you have to be different to be successful.
Branson: Focus on personality
Corporate rockstar Richard Branson stated that he hires based primarily on personality. Branson stated that most skills can be learned, but it is difficult to train personality.
“Personality is the key. It is not something that always comes out in an interview – people can be shy,” he advises. “But you have to trust your judgement. If you have got a slightly introverted person with a great personality, use your experience to pull it out of them. It is easier with an extrovert, but be wary of people becoming overexcited in the pressure of interviews.”
