Make Reasoned Choices

Have you ever been challenged to hire someone who didn’t have all the specified credentials listed for a position over someone who did?
 
What did you do?
 
I was once placed in that position, faced with an articulate, well read candidate lacking most of the listed qualifications and one who checked off every box on the qualification list.
 
Easy choice, right?
 
Wrong.
 
One candidate met all the education and previous work experience listed as requirements while the other had only two years of college and caddied for a PGA Tour golfer who rarely made the cut.
 
In weighing the demands of the job with the requirements, it was clear that in this case, the least qualified on paper possessed a mastery of the soft skills needed for success in this job found lacking in the most qualified.
 
Those soft skills?
-> Communication: The caddie demonstrated the ability to speak clearly and be understood at all the job levels with whom he would be interacting.
-> Commitment: Caddying for a PGA golfer who regularly missed the cut, meant he would not be making a great deal of money, while being faced with travel expenses moving from tournament to tournament, learning a new course each week, and always being on time.
-> Consistency: The caddy demonstrated a level of consistent activities leading to excellence in the execution of his job through preparation and improving himself by reading good books and meeting influential people.  
 
Sol says… “The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty.” ~ Proverbs 13:13
 
Over some opposition, I hired the caddy who turned out to be an exemplary team member who finished his degree and went on to a stellar career.
 
Make it a great day and keep being awesome.