News And Advice

Insights, tips and news for job seekers and employers.

How to Evaluate if a Candidate is a Team Player

Has this ever happened to you – you spend months wading through the talent pool until you finally find the right one; only to discover, just a few weeks in, that the candidate isn’t the right fit at all? Now, you find yourself spending precious time and money to start the candidate search process all over again.

Perhaps, professionally, the candidate seemed golden. He or she had all the right qualifications, impressive credentials and ample education. However, once your management team saw how he or she interacts with the rest of the staff, they realized right away this applicant was not the right choice. Had you only known about the candidate’s lack of interpersonal skills in the beginning, you would have moved on to another applicant.

With a more strategic and insightful evaluation process, you can discover clues about the candidate’s ability to be a team player. The staffing professionals at High Profile Staffing have developed three steps to help you determine if a candidate will be the right fit, both professionally and personally.

Step One: Ask specific questions about collaboration.

During the interview, don’t simply ask: “How have you contributed to a team?” Instead, get more specific. You can ask: “Tell us about a time when collaboration was a challenge. How did you overcome that situation to be successful?” Instead of asking “Do you prefer to work on a team or work alone?”, find out what the candidate sees as the pros and cons of each working environment. The key is to discover if the candidate can put aside his or her ego and work with a team.

Step Two: Check their references.

When you call the job applicant’s previous employers and references, ask questions that help you determine their level of cooperation. Find out if the candidate initiated team projects or had to be dragged along. Learn how he or she worked with the entire workforce – from peers to subordinates to authority figures.

Step Three: Be observant during the interview.

Pay attention to not just what they answer, but how they answer. Body language is a great way to tell if an interviewee is being authentic. If you ask a question about working on a team, does the candidate avert his or her eyes? Does he or she show excitement? Listen closely to their words, but also notice their facial expressions when answering. Sometimes words may convey one idea, while body language reveals another. Even if it doesn’t mean anything to you in the moment, jot down their physical response to reflect on it later.

If you need more team players, contact the experienced recruiters at High Profile Staffing. We’ve helped hundreds of Dallas-Fort Worth companies find solutions to the toughest staffing problems. Want access to a fully vetted talent pool of job seekers who can meet your needs? Call us today!

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