In case you are looking for staff, here are the traits of the candidates I helped hire who made it across the finish line in 2025:

These were traits that were non-negotiable across all roles:

• Accountability – owns outcomes, no blame shifting
• Comfort being measured – accepts metrics and feedback
• Reliability & consistency – low drama, dependable execution
• Respect for process – follows systems before improving them
• Calm under pressure – emotionally regulated in stress
• Real-world operating experience – understands consequences

Role specific must haves:

• Residential Sales Associate: Listening, trust-based selling, closing comfort
• Commercial Sales: Listening, ability to start a conversation, drive, organization
• Production / Service: Quality focus, consistency, service mindset
• Office: Thoroughness, “glass half full” personality, technology skills
• Management: Decision ownership, systems thinking, enforcing standards

Just as important are the traits that did NOT correlate to a candidate’s hireablity:

• High sociability or outgoing personality (this was only important in the CSA role)
• High emotional expressiveness
• Fast talkers / verbal speed / quick closers
• Interview likability or “good vibes”

Backgrounds that the hires came from:

• Consequence-rich environments
• Careers which required daily/weekly accountability
• Customer-facing and problem ownership roles
• Operationally messy jobs

Longevity at previous jobs:

Most of the hires demonstrated 3–5 years of tenure in their prior roles. These are not job hoppers; they are professionals who stay long enough to learn, contribute, and deliver measurable results.

In some cases, a candidate may have had a shorter stint in a role that simply wasn’t the right fit. However, those instances were balanced by a consistent history of 2–5+ years in previous positions, showing stability, growth, and commitment over time.

---

Interested in hiring me to hire for you? Click here for pricing and information.

Want to DIY my hiring process? Here you go!

Have you sourced your own candidate and want an experienced second opinion? Yes, I do that too.