Maximizing talent and ensuring a full hiring pipeline are often some of the most difficult aspects of running a successful business. The difficulty lies in the varying demands each employer places on new employees. All organizations are different and embody different cultures and work ethics. We wanted to find common ground, so we polled 350 people to find out which 25 traits were common among top-performing new hires.
We asked you to describe a great new hire in one word, and the following list is the crowdsourced response:
1. Passionate (4%)
To be successful in any new job or venture, new hires need to have energy and passion about the subject matter they are about to learn and master. Being passionate as an individual helps with onboarding new information and applying it.
2. Adaptable (4%)
Great new hires have to adapt to new surroundings, tasks, responsibilities, and people in order to succeed. For this reason, adaptability cannot be understated. Being able to maximize your surroundings by adopting new processes and mindsets is a great way to spot a great new hire.
3. Driven (3%)
Success is not easy, especially when learning new processes at a new company, so being driven is a huge determinant of success. Can you stumble, get back up, and continue to work on mastering your new position? Being driven is definitely a trait seen in all great new hires.
4. Humble (3%)
Being humble means understanding when to raise your opinion and when to listen. At all new jobs, new hires have to integrate with an existing team who may have been working together for years. The ability to be humble and accept feedback is a great way to spot a successful new hire.
5. Curious (3%)
People have to be curious in order to adopt new information. Additionally, a new hire who is curious will try to identify areas where they can grow, be more helpful, and contribute. Curiosity is a great trait to look for in new hires.
6. Intuitive (2%)
Nobody likes to train and onboard someone who cannot think for themselves or read the air in the room. Being intuitive means having the ability to think proactively, find tasks when none have been assigned, and move the needle without being prompted.
7. Honest (2%)
Great new hires only progress if they are honest with themselves and those around them. Being honest allows for constructive feedback, but it also enables the new hire to acquire trust within the new organization – both must-haves for new hires.
8. Dedicated (2%)
When learning any new skill or job, dedication is the first step to standing out as a new hire. Being dedicated means you will push yourself to onboard new knowledge and will stick it out when times get tough – as they inevitably do.
9. Intelligent (2%)
The ability to quickly and intelligently onboard new information and navigate a new corporate environment effectively is a great indicator of a successful new hire. Intelligence often lends itself to problem solving abilities, which is also useful as a new hire.
10. Motivated (2%)
A strong motivation to succeed and be successful is a valuable trait for new hires. It helps with dealing with the difficult patches that arise during training and the first few months at a new job.
11. Innovative (2%)
Great new hires can think creatively about the work they are doing and come up with new, exciting ways to finish tasks more effectively. Innovation in any work place is always a plus.
12. Integrity (2%)
Approaching work and those around you with integrity is a great attribute for new hires. Organizations are built by the people who do the work, day-in and day-out, and organizations work best when everyone in the workplace has integrity.
13. Positive (2%)
Nobody enjoys being around people that embody doom-and-gloom. New hires who bring positivity and energy to a new job are always a welcomed addition to any team.
14. Enthusiastic (2%)
When it comes to new hires, especially during the initial training people and first few months on the job, enthusiasm for what is going on within the workplace and for the job at hand is a great trait.
15. Tenacious (2%)
The desire to be aggressive and accomplish tasks, while also making sure that time spent in the new work environment is time spent effectively, is a true sign of tenacity and a great trait for new hires.
16. Coachable (2%)
Being coachable and taking feedback well is a great way to excel in any venture in life, but even more so when learning the ins-and-outs of a new company and position. Best of all, being coachable helps team members guide the onboarding process as well.
17. Determined (2%)
Embodying the will to win and the determination to succeed is helpful in all facets of life. When joining a new team, the mentality to always want to excel makes for an easier onboarding process and usually a successful new hire.
18. Team Player (2%)
Organizations are built by and with people,. Being able to work effectively in a team is vital as a new hire.
19. Resourceful (1%)
Oftentimes in a professional setting, we have to do more with less. When new hires show resourcefulness, combined with an ability to problem-solve and develop solutions, you have the recipe for a great new addition to the team.
20. Ambitious (1%)
Setting high goals and expecting a lot from yourself is a common trait among high-performers, and this is no different with new hires. The ambition to achieve great things is a great spirit to add to any team.
21. Reliable (1%)
When teams expand and new team members are brought on, the first litmus test for effectiveness is reliability – can the person get the job done when needed? Being reliable is a great way to stand out and a great trait for new hires.
22. Confident (1%)
In the professional world, the weak get eaten alive. This is why confidence and a natural swagger is helpful when pursuing a new job or joining a new team.
23. Valuable (1%)
New hires that demonstrate tangible value are often the ones who stick around and are given the opportunities to develop into great contributors on teams. Establishing value early is a great indicator of a great new hire.
24. Creative (1%)
Creativity and innovation go hand-in-hand. The ability to see things through a different lens and develop unique solutions to problems is a great sign for a new hire.
25. Authentic (1%)
When you need to work with a team for more than 40 hours a week, it is difficult and uncomfortable if you have to work with people who are fake, or put on a façade. Authenticity is a great team builder, and new hires who are authentic are more easily adopted into social groups.