Recognising special talent when you see it!!..By Darren Saul

Much easier said than done.

I have been interviewing for over 10 years and I am absolutely fascinated by people. In particular I am fascinated by the fact that many people are good while there is a small percentage that are simply extraordinary. You can meet 4 great people in a row and then as soon as that special number 5 walks in your energy level jumps up 10 notches, you build rapport super-fast and you automatically find yourself selling an opportunity instead of waiting for the candidate to sell him/herself to you. You smile, you laugh and you enjoy the interaction entirely. You come out of that meeting feeling like you are ready to just take off and run around the block (if only I actually did this more often but somehow the Thai lunch special down the road always seems to have a stronger lure). 

We've all been there and I thought this might be a great opportunity to further explore 2 areas of interest here -

1.    What are some of the traits and behaviours that extraordinary people share?

2.    What are some of the signs (during and after the interview) that confirm you have indeed recognised quality talent and have not been swept away by salesmanship and false-perception?

I certainly don't have all the answers. It is a lifelong work in progress for me but here are some of my thoughts..

Common traits of quality individuals

• They listen more than they speak - and when they speak they articulate their story with pinpoint accuracy and don't waste words (especially the big ones that nobody understands anyway..)
• They ask loads of intelligent questions - prepared and spontaneous
• You can't help but get drawn in by their enthusiasm - it's contagious
• When they smile they sparkle - and they smile a lot!
• They exude confidence and self-awareness - but they do so in a very humble way - never with arrogance
• Their body language allows you to catch a glimpse of their character - are they poised and in control or are they clumsy and anxious?
• They take pride in their appearance - it's a matter of self-respect and respect for others
• They are always punctual - in fact they usually arrive a little early
• They are open minded - always willing and able to discuss different options and welcome different schools of thought
• They are positive and easy going - never abrasive 

Checklist for confirming your hunch

• They come prepared! They have done their research into the organisation and responsibilities of the role. They may have even spoken to a few people that currently work in the organisation. They are clear about what they can offer in the role
• They don't tend to move from job to job every 6 months and tend to show a clear progression path within their work history
• They have no issues openly discussing the reasons for why they left previous roles for others - and these reasons are sound, verifiable and intelligent
• They have solid and meaningful reasons for wanting to explore other career options - money is sometimes part of the reason but it rarely the sole reason
• They usually have a strong idea of where they want to be - not necessarily in terms of exact time frame but in terms of an identified and strategic career path
• It is easy for them to talk in depth about their philosophies towards building strong rapport, providing strong customer service, managing expectations and priorities effectively
• If asked to provide further information after the meeting they do so extensively and in a very prompt manner
• They seem very willing to partner with you (the recruiter or hiring manager) to ensure a positive outcome ie. they give insightful feedback and they follow up as promised  
• Reference checks are very important - yes it may be true that most candidates provide referees that will be favourable but it is not always what the referees say about them that is the most important but HOW they say it..  

Identifying quality talent is all about subtlety - actions tend to speak louder than words and it is often what is not said that is the most interesting and informative..