Hiring for Soft Skills: Techniques for Evaluating Character and Potential

Episode 70


Episode Overview

Join Pete Newsome and Ricky Baez as they share the secret to successful recruitment: hiring for soft skills!

On this episode of the Hire Calling Podcast, our hosts discuss how to assess emotional intelligence, teamwork dynamics, and a candidate’s culture fit. Pete and Ricky explain how to balance technical qualifications with soft skills to make better hiring decisions.

They touch on the pros and cons of task-based interviews and the potential benefits of hiring freelancers. Beyond that, Ricky offers tips on interviewing with finesse. You’ll discover the power of behavioral questions, the danger zones of over-relying on resumes, and the often-overlooked value of professional references.

Could your hiring process use a boost? Tune in and transform your recruitment game!

Tips for Hiring for Soft Skills

  • Clear Job Descriptions: Begin with a detailed job description emphasizing the technical and soft skills required for the role.
  • Behavioral Interviewing: Utilize behavioral interview questions that require candidates to share real-life examples of demonstrating specific soft skills.
  • Group Assessments: Conduct group activities during the interview process to evaluate a candidate’s teamwork and collaboration skills.
  • Role Playing: Engage candidates in role-playing scenarios to observe their problem-solving, adaptability, and communication abilities.
  • Feedback Loop: Seek feedback from all interviewers to comprehensively understand a candidate’s soft skills.
  • Reference Checks: When speaking with references, ask pointed questions about the candidate’s interpersonal skills and teamwork capabilities.
  • Structured Interviews: Ensure consistency by having a structured interview format that evaluates soft skills across all candidates.
  • Use of Technology: Employ AI-driven tools and platforms that analyze a candidate’s responses or body language to gauge soft skills.
  • Continuous Improvement: Regularly update and refine your hiring processes based on feedback and changing company needs.

Additional Resources

A closeup of Pete Newsome, looking into the camera and smiling.

Pete Newsome is the President of 4 Corner Resources, the staffing and recruiting firm he founded in 2005. 4 Corner is a member of the American Staffing Association and TechServe Alliance and is a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner. Recent awards and recognition include being named to Forbes’ Best Recruiting and Best Temporary Staffing Firms in America, Business Insider’s America’s Top Recruiting Firms, The Seminole 100, and The Golden 100. He hosts the Cornering The Job Market podcast and YouTube channel, including The Week in Jobs, a weekly podcast and livestream on U.S. job market data, trends and news. He also hosts The AI Worker YouTube channel, where he explores artificial intelligence’s impact on employment and the future of work. Connect with Pete on LinkedIn

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